Balaton Community Library

Only one small reference was found about a city library in Balaton during the early years.  Mention was made of a fire in Balaton on February 8, 1908.  Several businesses burned; among them was M.L. Stewart’s library, valued at $300.

A 1936 advertisement for Tenhoff’s Drug Store stated there was a rental library in that place of business.  The rental fee was $.10 per week per book.

About 1952 Mrs. George (Amy) Gannott was in charge of a branch of the Marshall-Lyon County Library in the city hall.  In 1957 the library was moved to the basement of the F&M Bank.

In the spring of 1969 the council approved a request by the Balaton Study Club to renovate the village hall to accommodate the Lyon County Branch Library System.  The renovation was completed, new drapes and all, and in November 1969 the library was moved from the bank basement back to City Hall (240 S. Central).

This information is excerpted from the A Century of Memories: Balaton, Minnesota.

In the last few years, small changes with new display shelving, comfortable seating, and frequent refreshing of the collection have been well-received by the community.