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The Gillett Public Library was organized in Februrary of 1927 largely due to much hard work and enthusiastic backing of the Gillett Woman's Club which was chartered at the time also. Petitions were circulated throughout the city to determine if the citizens' felt the need for a library. The majority were highly in favor. The Charter Board Members were: President- Mr. Geroge Baird; Vice-President- Mrs. Art Sack; Secretary- Mrs. Stanley Korotev: Treasurer- Mr. R. Johnston.
Mrs. Korotev, also a member of the Woman's Club, had librarian's training and, as the first librarian, was responsible for the excellent beginning made by the small library. She was always willing to step in and take over later when a librarian was needed or to give help training other librarians. At first books were mostly donations and those bought at the annual College Women's Sale in Green Bay. But then, as it is now, help was cheerfully given with the loan of many boxes of books from the Farnsworth Public Library in Oconto to supplement the local collection.
The library was situated in a large room upstairs in the Village Hall (now the Municipal Building). The room had to be heated with a wood stove, so janitorial and fireman duties were included in the librarian's chores. The structure that presently houses the library at the corner of Main and McKenzle was built as an addition to the Municipal Building in 1957 when it was remodeled from the old Village Hall.
As the library over
the years began to be used
by more and more people from
outside the city limits
of Gillett, help was requested
from the Oconto County Board
for additional funds. It
was forthcoming in 1973 in
the form of matching funds
to those given by the
Gillett City Council for the
support of the library.
A preschool story hour is held
weekly at the library from
October through April staffed mainly
by members of the Gillett
Woman's Club with other interested
community women.
At present the
library is used one morning
a week by the SEN "Special
Educational Needs" Program for preschool
children. This pro-gram
is state-funded and supervised by
Mr. Hruska, the Grade-School Principal.