Anniversary
2019 was our official 75th anniversary for Henderson Libraries.
1942 Basic Magnesium, Inc. Technical Library
September 10, 1942
The only library in Henderson is housed in the Basic Magnesium, Inc. Administration building. The Big Job, BMI's employee newsletter, features an article about a donation of non-technical books for BMI employees to borrow.
1943 First library established in Henderson
July 22, 1943
The first library is established in Henderson at the Basic Townsite in July 1943. The Las Vegas Retail Merchants Association purchased and donated 75 volumes to the Basic Townsite Library. Find out more information from the 1943 Basic Bombardier Newsletter in the Henderson Digital Archives.
1944 Henderson District Public Libraries are founded
January 22, 1944
Henderson District Public Libraries was founded by petition for the formation of the Henderson School District, approved by the Board of County Commissioners per letter by Roger D. Folly, District Attorney. He based this finding on the minutes of the Henderson School Board, but did not locate the petition in the County Clerk’s Office. Find out more information from the 2003 Time Capsule found in the Henderson Digital Archives.
1946 Henderson District Public Library first opened
August 1, 1946
The Library opened for business, according to the August 1, 1946 edition of the Henderson Herald. It was governed by a board of directors appointed by the Railroad Pass School District. The Librarian was Mrs. L. G. Jondahl. Find out more information from the 2003 Time Capsule found in the Henderson Digital Archives.
1947 Book circulation
Total number of books checked out for the year 1947 at Henderson District Public Library reaches 12,683.
1948 Lydia Malcolm, Librarian
Lydia Malcolm is the Head Librarian at Henderson District Public Library until 1969.
1950 First Summer Reading Program
First Children's Summer Reading Program started at Henderson District Public Library with 157 children in attendance.
1953 Purchase agreement for Henderson District Public Library
February 2, 1953
Henderson District Public Library entered into a purchase agreement with John C. Galbraith Company and Basic Management, Inc. for the building and grounds at 55 Water Street in Downtown Henderson. Find out more information from the 2003 Time Capsule found in the Henderson Digital Archives.
1956 Henderson District Public Library becomes a county library district
The Library became a county library district during a special session of the Nevada Legislature during a major overhaul of education laws. At that time, school district statutes were repealed and county library districts were automatically established with identical boundaries and the board of trustees began being appointed by the board of county commissioners. Minutes in possession of the Library District show County Commission appointments to the board in 1958.
1956 Building on Water and Pacific Streets reopened
October 1956
Photographs of the Henderson District Public Library in October 1956 at Water and Pacific Streets in Downtown Henderson. The library was closed for a few weeks in 1956 to enlarge the building. It reopened on October 9, 1956. Photographs courtesy of Clark County Museum, Henderson Home News Photographs.
1958 Book circulation
Henderson District Public Library checks out over 33,000 books for the year 1958, and Henderson population reaches 17,000!
1959 Dedication ceremony for the $15,000 addition
November 16, 1959
Photographs of the dedication of the new $15,000 addition to the Henderson District Public Library.
1961 Increase checkouts
August 17, 1961
The Library Board of Trustees votes to increase the checkout limit for adult patrons to 4 books.
1966 New hours
October 11, 1966
The Library Board of Trustees approves the library to be open 6 days a week instead of 5. The new hours: Monday – Thursday 12pm to 9pm, Friday – Saturday 12pm to 5 pm.
1967 Legislation passed to form library districts in Nevada
Legislation was passed to make it easier to form a library district. Henderson and Boulder City remain as previously formed, and several additional county library districts have subsequently formed including Clark County Library District, Pahrump, Smokey Valley, Amargosa, and Tonopah Library Districts.
1968 Budget
Henderson District Public Library budgets $7,429 for Fiscal Year 1968 books and materials.
1969
Helen Van Wagenen, Librarian
Helen Van Wagenen replaces Lydia Malcolm as Head Librarian, and stays in that role until 1971. “Helen Van Wagenen, librarian at Henderson District Public Library standing by a garden wall, holding two yams”. Photograph courtesy of Clark County Museum, Henderson Home News Photographs. 2000.420G.7708
Borrowing privileges
March 20, 1969
The Library Board of Trustees agrees to a 6-month trial period for reciprocal borrowing privileges between all libraries in Clark County.
1970 Boundary maps
Henderson District Public Library files boundary maps with the county recorder.
1971 Thomas Hollis, Librarian
July 12, 1971
Thomas Hollis is the new Librarian for Henderson District Public Library.
1974 Library consolidation
November 7, 1974
Resolution passed by the Library Board of Trustees: “Because the consolidation of the Las Vegas Public Library with Clark County Library District has not proven to be an efficient use of funds, manpower, or resources and because personalized and unique library service can best be accomplished according to individual community standards, therefore it is resolved that the Boulder City Public Library, Henderson District Public Library, and the North Las Vegas Public Library do object and take irrevocable stand against further library consolidation in Clark County.”
1977 Budget
February 3, 1977
Librarian Tom Hollis informs the Library Board of Trustees the revenue for the Fiscal Year 1978 budget is $64,046.
1981 Budget
February 26, 1981
The Library Board of Trustees approves the Fiscal Year 1982 budget of $118,889.
1982 Michael Thomas Carollo, Librarian
Michael Thomas "M.T." Carollo is the new Librarian for Henderson District Public Library.
1983 Late fines
November 10, 1983
The Library Board of Trustees votes to raise late fines from $0.02/day to $0.05/day.
1985 Fact sheet
1986
Janet Clark, Acting Director
January 1986
Janet Clark assumes the role as Acting Director for the Library until August 6, 1988.
Mayor Lorna Kesterson signs resolution
February 4, 1986
Mayor Lorna Kesterson signs a resolution to lease Henderson District Public Library property for a new library facility. The property appraises for $1.2 million. The lease amount is $1/year for 99 years.
1987 Book circulation
Henderson District Public Library checks out over 86,600 books in 1987, and has over 44,000 books in the collection. Henderson population reaches just over 44,000 people.
1988
Pittman Library opens
February 1988
The Pittman Library had been housed since its opening on the western edge of Wells Park in a building constructed by the Pittman Women's Club in the mid-1950's. In February 1988, a new facility, made possible through federal funds, opened its doors to the Pittman area community. During the opening ceremonies, Mayor Lorna Kesterson noted the building was "completely modernized." Nevada First Congressional District Representative, James Bilbray, was on hand to see firsthand how the federal funds benefited individual members of the community. He called the public library system "one of the great benefits of being an American," during his address to the crowd of well-wishers that gathered for the grand opening. The library was renovated again in the 1990's through a cooperative effort of the Henderson District Public Libraries, Henderson Boys & Girls Club and the City of Henderson. Today, the Pittman Cybrary as it is now known is housed in a building shared with the Henderson Boys & Girls Club. Innovative technology and programming helped launch the Pittman Cybrary into the new millennium.
Carroll Gardner, Library Director
August 1988
Carroll Gardner assumes the role as Library Director until July 1993.
1989 James I. Gibson Library opens
March 13, 1989
The James I. Gibson Library opened with a celebration honoring Senator James I. Gibson for his assistance in obtaining passage of a statewide bond and subsequent allocation of funds to Henderson for the building. The previous building at 55 S. Water Street, acquired in 1946, had long been in disrepair, outdated and over-utilized. The fast growing population hailed the new library as a symbol of their “arrival” in the modern world of libraries.
1991 Ballot measure passes
February 1988
1993
Carroll Gardner retires
January 1993
Library Director Carroll Gardner announces her intent to retire. A salary range of $42,000 – 53,500 is established to recruit a new library director.
John Gettleman, Library Director
July 1993
John Gettleman is the new Library Director for Henderson District Public Libraries, until he leaves in March 1995.
1994 Organizational chart
1995
Lydia Malcolm Library opens
September 30, 1995
The Lydia Malcolm Library opened to provide service to a rapidly growing area of Henderson. Named for Henderson’s longest-serving librarian, Lydia Malcolm, who oversaw the opening festivities, the 4,000 square foot-facility opened with 15,000 books on its shelves. The facility offered traditional library resources, such as a reference section and selection of music CD’s, but had a particular emphasis on children’s services. The Malcolm Library became the third facility for the Henderson District Public Libraries. The Malcolm Library was the first storefront library in Henderson.
Zuki Landau, Library Director
March 1995
Zuki Landau is the new Library Director until November 1998.
1997 Reference Statistics
Reference Statistics for February 1997.
1999 Joan Kerschner, Library Director
March 8, 1999
Joan G. Kerschner, State Librarian, is the new Library Director for Henderson District Public Libraries.
2002 Paseo Verde Library opens
August 24, 2002
Paseo Verde Library opened with a day-long celebration. An early morning reception paid tribute to Honorary Friends of the Library, including Selma Bartlett, Donna Childs, Bob Fielden, Mayor James B. Gibson, Brian Greenspun, Lorna Kesterson, Claire MacDonald, Sandy Miller, Mike O’Callaghan, Hal Rothman, Hal & Tina Smith, Othena Williams, and Commissioner Bruce Woodbury.
A dedication ceremony was held outside, featuring a keynote speech by Mayor James I. Gibson. Nearly 3,000 people visited the library that day to enjoy music, food, storytelling and author visits and to check out 2,500 books!
2004
Tom Fay, Library Director
April 4, 2004
Joan Kerschner retires, Tom Fay is the new Executive Director for Henderson District Public Libraries.
2004 Hawkeye
June 22, 2004
“Hawkeye” the library mascot makes his debut.
2005 Malcolm Library moves
February 2005
Lydia Malcolm Library opened at 2960 Sunridge Heights Parkway, replacing the storefront at Pecos and Wigwam.
2006 Bookmobile
April 22, 2006
Henderson Libraries Bookmobile debuts at the Heritage Days Parade.
2007
1,000,000 circulation
June 11, 2007
Henderson Libraries circulation hit 1,000,000 for the fiscal year, setting a new record.
APPLE Partnership
September 29, 2007
The APPLE Partnership brought Marc Brown to Henderson.
One Book
October 2007
One Book kicked off with Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Reduction in hours
October 18, 2007
The Library Board of Trustees approves reduction in library hours effective February 1, 2008 due to budget shortfall.
2009
The Galleria Library
February 28, 2009
The Galleria Library at the Galleria Sunset Mall opens.
Pittman Library closes
March 19, 2009
The Library Board of Trustees decides to close the Pittman Library.
Green Valley Library
May 2, 2009
The Green Valley Library re-opens as part of the Henderson District Public Libraries.
2010
Heritage Park Library
January 30, 2010
The Heritage Park Library opens at the Heritage Park Senior Facility.
James I. Gibson Library
July 7, 2010
The James I. Gibson Library opens at 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway.
2012 Library closures
November 2012
The Galleria Library in the Galleria Mall closes on November 21, 2012, followed closely by the closure of the Lydia Malcolm Library on November 30, 2012.
2013 Gayle Hornaday, Interim Director
June 20, 2013
Tom Fay resigns as Executive Director; Assistant Director Gayle Hornaday, who has been with Henderson Libraries since 1994, assumes role of Interim Director.
2014
Angela Thornton, Executive Director
May 2014
Angela Thornton is the new Executive Director.
Hours restore
July 17, 2014
Monday hours restored to Paseo Verde Library; Green Valley Library and Gibson Library remain unchanged.
2015 Henderson Libraries Mini Con
July 15, 2015
The first Henderson Libraries Mini Con debuts at Paseo Verde Library.
2016
Rebranding
March 1, 2016
Henderson Libraries new branding is launched to the public.
Gayle Hornaday, Interim Director
August 2016
Angela Thornton resigns as Executive Director; Gayle Hornaday assumes role of Interim Director.
2017 Marcie Smedley, Executive Director
June 8, 2017
Marcie Smedley is the new Executive Director of Henderson Libraries.