History of the Winslow Public Library
In 1899, the Winslow Women's Club founded the Literary Guild and began the quest for a local library. Every member of the Woman’s Club donated a book to start the library collection. The library was moved between buildings, garages and spare rooms for many years including a small room above the Fire Department in 1926. In the 1940’s, the City of Winslow contributed $25 to aid in the purchase of books and the Woman’s Club paid a librarian to keep the library open for six hours a week. By the early 1960’s, the collection held approximately 9,000 books and the Winslow Junior Woman’s Club was collaborating with the Arizona State Library’s Extension Service to try and establish a full-time, staffed library.
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In 1965, the library collection was housed in a garage behind the Woman’s Clubhouse. The Junior Woman’s Club decided to establish Winslow’s first full-time, full service library as their community improvement project. On July 24, 1966, seven-year-old Roxanne Whipple was tragically killed in an automotive accident. The Whipple family wanted to support a memorial for their child and recognized the need for a public library. Following a generous donation from Roxanne’s grandfather Floyd Whipple, the Winslow Woman’s Club began a concentrated effort to raise funds for a new library building.
Doris Tyler, Chairman of the Winslow Woman’s Club’s Community Project Improvement Committee was named the head of the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library fund. She began researching library needs and found that the current library space was only 1/4th the recommended area for a town the size of Winslow. The collection was severely lacking, and the storage space was only open for 10 hours a week. The goal was to raise $50,000 for a new building that would be open full time before July 1, 1967.
In September 1967, the City Council passed a resolution to set aside land to build the new library building. The area now known as the Triangle Park was purchased for $10 and building plans began to develop. The family members of Roxanne Whipple, including her brothers, all made generous donations to the fund. The three Kretsedemas brothers, immigrants from Greece and some of the first donors, were shocked that their new home did not have a public library when most villages in Greece, which were much smaller than Winslow, had libraries. Over 200 local businesses displayed cans decorated by elementary school students to collect donated change. Local artists and performers hosted events with all ticket proceeds going towards the new library.
The local Valley National Bank displayed a giant thermometer, painted by the WHS Art Department, showing progress of the fundraising effort. Some of the more creative fundraisers included a WHS Graduates vs. the Winslow Job Corps football game, a Penny-a-Pound Airlift (which resulted in a dieting team vs. a weight gaining team), special radio shows, PTA bake sales and competitions, spring hat sales, benefit auctions, galas, and car washes. Despite extensive fundraising throughout the town, in 1967 it was determined that a new building was not financially obtainable.
The former Wesleyan Methodist Church was purchased by the Board of Trustees (Jerri Freeman, Dr. F.J. McCormick, Fritz Dahlen, Virginia Brahmer, Warner Leppin, Priscilla Bowman, Mrs. Keith Loke, Mrs. Ross Tyler and Father John Butcher) of the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library and deeded to the City of Winslow. Fundraisers continued to purchase shelving, improve the building, and purchase books, magazines, and other materials. The money not spent renovating the current building was to be saved in hopes of receiving more donations and grants to eventually construct a new building. The adjoining parsonage was rented out for $50 a month to continue fundraising. The Schibi Brothers were awarded the remodeling contract and Mike Guiterrez built the checkout desk. Volunteers worked to paint, install shelving, and otherwise prepare the building.
On August 18, 1969, the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library officially opened under the command of Mrs. Charles Bowman. The Library was open from 2:00pm – 6:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 2:00pm – 9:00pm on Tuesday and Thursdays. Later lead staff included Priscilla Bowman, Andy Deering, W. Gregory Tremere, Michael Piper, Florence Erwin, Laura Massie, and Kathy Trujillo. In the 1970’s, management of the Library was turned over to Navajo County. By 1981, the Library held over 64,000 volumes and had 10 staff members. In the late 1980’s, the library and McHood Park were turned back over to the City of Winslow due to financial issues at the County level. Over the years, the library’s collection continued to grow, but due to budget constraints, the staffing was cut as well as the hours the library was open to the public. By 1990 there were only 4 staff members and the Library was open less than 30 hours a week.
In May of 1994, the Friends of the Winslow Public Library were formed. Led by Virginia Summersgill, the first President, Coraleen Mead, Donna Stoneburner, Lisa MacLean, Barbara Arthur, Nanette & Fran McHugh, Sarah Smithson, and Laura Conatser began the campaign to revitalize the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library. In mid-May, the City of Winslow had announced that due to a budget deficit, 15% of the City’s workforce would be laid-off immediately and, amongst many other department cuts, the Library would be changed to a children-focused library with a cut in staff and hours of operation.
It was recommended that the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library be combined with the library on the Northland Pioneer College Little Colorado Campus. A up-coming bond issue was presented to build a 25,000 square-foot classroom library on the campus to help hold the books. However, it was noted that the planned space would not hold the entire collection. The Friends of the Library rallied to save the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library.
Meetings began at once and the FOL, supported by numerous citizens, petitioned the city to not only stop the merger with NPC, but to employ a full-time certified librarian and began again the fundraising process for a new building. Over 450 signatures on their initial petition were presented at the following City Council meeting. Library usage statistics and research were quoted to support keeping a public library. With only 2.5 staff positions and hours cut to only 22 per week, the citizens of Winslow clamored for a solution.
On July 14, 1995 the Winslow Mail reported at the previous City Council meeting the FOL shared that 30 volunteers were keeping the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library open and running with children’s events and monthly cultural programs. The FOL urged the council to hire a professional librarian quickly. In December of 1995, the City of Winslow allotted funds to the Library for a basement remodel, building upkeep, and an inter-library computer network.
The following June 1996, the City Council voted to hire two part-time staff rather than a full-time librarian; the motion passed 4 to 3. The Friends of the Library rallied again and at the following City Council meeting, a motion was made to hire a full-time certified librarian after all. Only one City Council member voted no and the hiring process began. On August 30, 1996, Irene Best was hired as the first certified librarian in Winslow from a pool of 40 applicants.
On November 16, 1996, the Friends of the Library hosted a Grand Reopening of the Roxanne Whipple Memorial Library. Now run by a certified librarian, the Library’s hours were expanded, services were increased, and ADA compliant ramps were installed. The local Walmart donated a new IBM PS1 computer, the first computer at the Library, with the 1997 World Book Encyclopedia installed. In early 1997, Irene Best requested funds from the City Council to fix the leaking roof, increase hours of operation, and expand the building to include a community room with adjacent mini-kitchen, study tables, a children’s room, staff room, and computer laboratory.
In 1998, the Library debuted its first computers with a digital catalog for patrons. Mayor Jim Boles was the first to receive a library card with the new system. Irene Best continued to encourage the City to look into a new building for the Library as it was outgrowing the current space. The Friends of the Winslow Public Library were awarded the honor of the Friends of the Library Organization of the Year for Arizona for their hard work and dedication. The following year, the FOL established the Friends of the Library Redevelopment Committee to redevelop the downtown area with a cultural center and new library building.
New fundraising endeavors began. The Woman’s Club held a Christmas Season House Tour with all donations going toward the new building fund. Robert Beamish purchased the old Babbit’s/P&H building on the corner of Warren and Kinsley (currently the Snowdrift Art Space), intending to donate it to the City of Winslow to house the new, downtown library. The Community First Bank donated a Global Electric Motorcar to be raffled off. Other fundraisers included a one-woman play Calamity Jane, a kick-off dinner, FOL annual Book Sales and a treats booth at the Christmas Parade, an FOL Cookbook with prized local recipes, and a bull riding competition in which the winner, Cole Britten, donated his winnings back to the fund. A new fundraising sign, painted by Roxanne Lacy, was posted at the hoped for building.
Architectural plans were developed, and the building was analyzed to be sure it was structurally sound. Several sets of plans and reviews of plans were discarded, and it was eventually decided that it would be too expensive to bring the P&H building up to code to serve as a new library site. The other downtown redevelopments continued, and the library remained where it was.
The idea of a new library building was regularly repeated by the Friends of the Library at City Council meetings. Plans were considered to build a City Center in the old Yellowfront buildings, but it did not come to pass. In 2002, City Librarian Docia Blalock and the Friends of the Library made a presentation to the City Council to recommend the Library’s name be changed to the Winslow Public Library. Visitors to the area searched for the Winslow library, not knowing it was named after Roxanne Whipple. The name was changed however, the children's area will always be known as Roxanne's Room to honor the Whipple Family.
In 2019, the Friends of the Library brought up the idea of adding a large addition to the current Library building. The FOL offered $250,000 to the City of Winslow for a Library addition. Unfortunately, the levy north of Winslow had been decommissioned and the Library was in the flood plain which reduced what types of additions could be added, making the plans unfeasible.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the Federal Government released the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill named the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In September 2022, the Winslow City Council voted to spend $3 million dollars of ARPA funds on a new building. Combining the funds with previously set aside money, LSTA Grants from the Arizona State Library and Archives as well as ARPA money from the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, the new building process officially began
At the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2023, the Friends of the Winslow Public Library donated $250,000 towards the new building. These funds had been saved and invested from years of donations, book sales, and the donation of the entire Beamish estate. Designed by Barton Architecture, PLLC and build by RestorePro, the building project progressed through 2024. City crews worked hard to move all the books, materials and archives of the Library to the new building through the winter of 2024 and early 2025.