The Hampton Public Library will host its 120th birthday celebration Monday.
The library was first dedicated in 1905 after Hampton’s board of trustees applied to Andrew Carnegie’s foundation. Carnegie, one of the wealthiest Americans in history, donated roughly $350 million during the last years of his life to charities, foundations and universities. He donated funds to build over 2,500 libraries across the United States, including 101 in Iowa.
The Hampton Public Library is one of 48 Carnegie libraries that still operates today. Judy Harper served as library director from 1980 to 2007 and tells RadioOnTheGo News technology today in the library is a lot different than it was in 1980.
“We had electric typewriters and an electric adding machine. That was pretty well it. We had worked with very antiquated equipment when I came in ’74 and was surprised to see that they even had an electric typewriter in 1980. So we had one. And that was the start of getting up to speed in office equipment. And from there on, we went with a photocopy machine, which were new at that time. I believe we had our first computer in ’85. It was very basic and no checking out with the computer but basically Suzy (Knipfel) was using it at that time to process new materials as they came in.”
Current director Suzy Knipfel has worked at the library since 1985 and has served as director since April of 2024. She says there has been great support from the community over the years.
“We’re lucky that we’ve had good stewards, especially Judy (Harper), you know, in all the years she was here. Kim Manning, she was a director, immediately preceding me. Her job, she had to kind of spearhead the East parking lot and then the rounded curved area where all the windows are. Just very thankful for the community and our patrons who continue to value us and come into the library. You know, it’s wonderful. It’s just wonderful to know that the community supports us.”
The celebration will begin at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the library with guest speaker Dr. Shana Stuart, a historian with a focus on Carnegie libraries. There will be a welcome at Band Shell Park at 4:30 p.m. and the recreation of the dedication photo from 1905 at 5:15 on the west side of the library. A free community meal, courtesy of First Bank Hampton, will be served following the photo.
Some information courtesy of Hampton Public Library’s Facebook page
Pictured are current library director Suzy Knipfel (left) and former director Judy Harper
