TF Library prepares for centennial

As the Thompson Falls Library turns 100 years old this year, the new library director and her staff have been working to do something special. Crystal Buchanan was told, not long after she took over the position from the former library director, that the library was opened in 1921. This year she wanted to do something to celebrate the library turning 100 years old. Buchanan took up the challenge and the library is proud to announce several ways they will be celebrating the momentous occasion.

The first, is the community time capsule. Recently the library received approval from the City of Thompson Falls to put the time capsule at Ainsworth Park, to be reopened in 100 years. The time capsule will feature letters and pictures from the community. Buchanan plans to put more information out in the newspaper, the schools, and on Facebook for those interested in submitting entrees. Once filled, the time capsule will be sealed and placed in an undisclosed location in Ainsworth Park. During the official opening ceremony of the park, the burial of the capsule will be announced.

According to Buchanan, this is a fortuitous place to put the capsule because of the name. In her research to celebrate 100 years, Buchanan discovered that Ainsworth Park is named after a man called Alburn "Bud" Stevens Ainsworth, who was the first town attorney for Thompson Falls. The wife of that attorney was named Mable Ainsworth, and she was the driving force for the creation of the Thompson Falls Library. Mable was one of three founding library board members, and she was the start of the idea. Buchanan said she found that Mable was "the little firecracker that said this needs to happen." Buchanan discovered that Mable had libraries in her blood, with her mother becoming the first Thompson Falls librarian and her grandson helping to build one of the first libraries in Missoula.

As another part of the 100 years celebration, the library awarded $100 in the form of four $25 gift cards from four local businesses. These were given to the 100th community member to walk into the library on the 100th day of the year, which was Saturday, April 10. The winner was Arlene Mack and the businesses that donated were Minnie's, Harvest Foods, Feed and Fuel, and Mangy Moose.

Buchanan also said the library will also be adding 100 titles to each section, vastly expanding the library's contents. Along with that, they have changed the design of their Friends of the Library bags to include a "100 years" logo.

Buchanan started with the library in November, taking over the position from Lynne Kersten. She used to be the outreach and volunteer director for the Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) but took on the director position in the library. As she still works for SCCFF, she has relied on the staff there to take on more responsibilities. "They are fantastic people; hard working and wonderful. They have been doing awesome taking on more responsibility while I transition into my new role at the library," said Buchanan about the SCCFF staff. Currently, Buchanan works 40 hours a week in the library and another 12 with SCCFF. Buchanan has lived here since 2010 and before that had been in and out of the area for years. "People are more friendly up here and we have family here. We are very blessed to have good people here, so I can't imagine a better place to raise our family," said Buchanan.

The library is open Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information about the library is available by calling 827-3547, by visiting their website thompsonfallspubliclibrary.org or by finding them on Facebook under Thompson Falls Public Library.