Noel Wien Public Library

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The Noel Wien Public Library, operated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough, is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. It has a branch library in North Pole, Alaska.

[edit] History

The library was named after Alaskan aviator Noel Wien and its main branch stands on the site of Weeks Field. The library was first established in 1904 as a reading room in St. Matthew's Episcopal Mission. Archdeacon Hudson Stuck donated 1,000 books to get the library going. In 1909 construction of a separate library building was given a boost by George C. Thomas of Philadelphia. Thomas donated $1,000 a year for three years to buy more books. In 1942, St. Matthew's deeded the lot, building, and collections to the city of Fairbanks. In 1949 a fire destroyed one-third of the collections, but through subsequent donations the library grew to more than 4,000 volumes. In 1967 the library again lost many of its books due to the flooding of the Chena River that August. The next year, 1968, ownership of the library was transferred to the borough, and the collection swelled to 20,000 items. In 1974, a library construction bond passed, providing $4.2 million for construction of a new building. In 1977, the new library opened its doors to the public.