In January 1901, fourteen women organized the Dell Rapids Women’s Club, whose chief objective was to establish and maintain a public library for the town of Dell Rapids. For years the women worked tirelessly to raise funds to support a new library and wrote letters to philanthropists soliciting financial aid, finally reaching the desk of Andrew Carnegie. In 1908 Dell Rapids was awarded $6,000 to build a new library and finally, on March 16th, 1910, their dream became a reality when the Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library was dedicated! On May 2, 2015, the library was rededicated after a 15 year-long effort by community members to renovate the existing library building and build an addition, doubling the size of the library! What started out as a small dream by fourteen women, has become a reality that continues to grow and thrive over 100 years later!
Today, the library holds 15,137 books, 528 audiobooks, 1,847 DVD’s, along with magazines, newspapers, board games and more! The library also provides many services to the community including: Interlibrary Loan, Libby App (downloadable books/audiobooks), Braille and Talking Book Program, computer and software access including WiFi, printing, copies, and faxing. The library offers many programs and activities throughout the year including: summer reading program, winter reading challenge, monthly adult programs, monthly teen programs, storytime, makerspace, and more!
In 2024 more than 26,000 items were checked out to library patrons and roughly 2,800 people attended 191 library programs! 4,060 people hold a library card at our library, including rural members!