(Statewide) – On December 16, 2021, the Wyoming State Library will mark 150 years of providing quality library services to the residents of Wyoming.
In 1871, the Second Territorial Legislature approved legislation creating the Wyoming
Territorial Library with the “charge and custody of all books, maps, papers, charts, engravings, paintings and all other things properly belonging to the library, or directed to be deposited therein, and shall also keep a regular file of all newspapers published in the territory which shall be donated thereto.”
On December 16 of that year, Governor John A. Campbell signed into law the creation of the Territorial Library, now the Wyoming State Library.
Today, the Wyoming State Library is charged by statute to serve as the state documents depository, to receive and manage federal funds intended for libraries, and to extend and develop library services throughout Wyoming.
The library maintains a collection of items that date back to territorial days and has managed federal library funds for statewide benefit for 60 years.
Support for libraries now includes consulting services and a money-saving central acquisitions program.
In the late 1900s, the State Library developed and implemented the statewide WYLDCat shared library catalog and added electronic resources available to everyone in Wyoming.
More recent is the addition of e-books, e-audiobooks and more that make reading materials available anytime, anywhere.
“When your history spans a century and a half, you certainly see some things change,” said Jamie Markus, Wyoming State Librarian.
“We’ve adjusted our mission over the years, but what hasn’t changed is our dedication to serving the people of Wyoming. We’re proud of our achievements, and we look forward to the next 150 years.”
To learn more about the Wyoming State Library and its services, click here, and find statewide electronic resources at GoWYLD.net.