Marshall-Lyon County Library

The mission of the Marshall-Lyon County Library is to be “your source for the discovery and exchange of ideas through a world of information, inspiration and imagination.”

In an editorial in the News Messenger, Jan. 9, 1880, the idea of establishing a public library came partly from the need to provide a place to “stimulate and direct [the young men’s] ambition toward things that will properly develop them” instead of them spending time in saloons. It would also “add an institution to our town that will grow with its intelligence, and in time reach something to be proud of.”

The Art History Club initiated a request for Andrew Carnegie funding in 1902, and in 1903, Carnegie offered $10,000 if the village would provide the site and $100 annually for maintenance. That building at 301 W Lyon Street served the community until 1967.

The beginnings of a joint relationship with Lyon County were discussed in the late 1930’s, and in 1944 a librarian was hired and set up the process of distributing 3077 books amongst 14 stations around the County: Amiret, barber shop; Balaton, council room; Burchard, general store and post office; Cottonwood, separate room in city building; Dudley, general store; Florence, general store; Garvin, bank; Ghent, shoe store; Green Valley, grocery store; Lynd, post office, Marshall, library; Russell, telephone building; Sampson’s corner, the store; Taunton, drug store. The Lyon County Library was set up in the basement of the Carnegie Library and was designated for those living outside the Marshall City limits.

The Carnegie Library was demolished and a new library building constructed on the same site opening in 1967.  Margaret “Peg” Bosshardt became the Library Director in 1968 until she retired in 1998. She contributed to the creation of the nine-county Plum Creek Library System.

In 1974 the agreement was made official for “residents of the County presently situated outside of any city in which is situated a free public library,” thereby creating the present Marshall-Lyon County Library (MLCL), which includes branches in Balaton and Cottonwood.

For several years, the Inter-Library Loan department of Plum Creek was located in the basement of the Lyon Street localation, and one of two Bookmobiles began delivering materials to the western section of PCLS’ service area. The Road Runner had its last run in the spring of 1997.

Realizing that the current 1967 facility was no longer able to keep up with a doubled population, wider service area, and new expectations of technology, the Library Foundation embarked on a fundraising campaign in 2006, and a new single-floor building was opened at 201 C Street in the fall of 2011. Since funding was short of the ideal goal, it took another four years for the Robert L. and Phyllis Carr Children’s Wing to be opened in 2015.

In 2024, thanks to the generosity of his estate and donations in his memory, the Mark. S. Goodenow Preservation Lab opened to allow digitization of treasured analog memories into digital format.

The new building had over 90,000 visits in 2023, making use of an Early Learner’s Play area, study rooms, large meeting room, comfortable seating throughout the building, and enhanced services and materials, including the “Library of Amusements” – toys, games, puzzles, tools, and more, for check-out. Digital services continue to expand to meet demand.

MLCL continues to adapt to our community’s needs and expectations, making it a welcoming place for all.