Mission:
The Coloma Public Library will provide, promote and enhance life-long learning and enjoyment of multi media materials and programs. We will encourage reading for leisure for all patrons of all ages and abilities.
History:
On May 1, 1986, the Coloma Community and Youth Center opened. Shortly after, one of the three rooms in the center was arranged with books on loan from the Winnefox Library System. The Coloma Library offered about 250 books to it's community patrons.
Over the next year. Barb Brown drove to Hancock each month to pick up 25 to 30 books obtained on rotation from Winnefox. Volunteers were scarce so books could only be checked out when there were planned activities at the community center.
A need for a more structured schedule lead volunteer Laura Mae Blackmore in September 1988 to accept the task of establishing regular hours with the help of Beatrice Kitchen.
On May 31, 1990, the Coloma Village Board voted the library to be renamed the Coloma Community Library.
On June 16, 1990, the Library Board requested a feasibility study from the Wisconsin Department of Publication regarding the need for a public library in the Village of Coloma.
In September 1990, the Coloma Public Library was officially established with the appointment of a Coloma Library Board.
On January 1, 1991, the Coloma Public Library became a member of the Winnefox Library System.
Since 1990, the Coloma Public Library has been active in the community. On Thursday mornings it sponsors a pre-school reading program. The library also takes part in the state summer reading program.
Every other week, Laura Mae took an assortment tray of 12 books to the Kingston Court Apartments in Coloma for it's residents to enjoy. The senior citizens really look forward to her visits. The Coloma Homemakers supported the library effort. Volunteers help catalog books several Tuesdays of each month. Local artist's works were displayed in the library. With all this growth, the library was open to the public 30 hours each week.
The Friends of the Library, organized by Laura Mae, has been an important source of revenue to the Library. Due to their fundraisers, the library has been able to purchase computers, fax machines, typewriters, etc.
Other endowments include the Winnefox Enrichment Fund which enabled the library to purchase a copier machine in 1992, as well as several Federal Grants.
We have also received various donations from our local Coloma Lions Club, the Lutheran Brotherhood, Green Giant, Coloma/Hancock Legion Post, Consolidated Papers, Inc., the Kenyon Follett Family and other gifts and memorials.
About Us:
Our Library is located near the center of our community. We serve a population of approximately 1500 people. We have regular hours which are listed on the right. We run different kinds of programs through out the year with most of them occurring in the summer time.
