With 75 years now in the books, a rural library district quietly celebrates
By Anthony Kuipers, Daily News staff writer May 16, 2020 

“Shortly after the birth of the Whitman County Rural Library District in 1945, a library headquarters was established in a Colfax building that formerly housed a saloon.

According to current WCL Director Kristie Kirkpatrick, legend has it that drunken visitors would sometimes stumble in looking for a drink but leave with books instead…”

Read the full article by Moscow-Pullman Daily News

The library was in the same building as the post office in Riparia, WA, until the post office closed in 1963. Riparia was a small town next to the Snake River in Whitman County*

Children pose with a pony while attending story hour in 1945 at the Pine City Branch of the Whitman County Rural Library District*

Gladys Bowles, Whitman County Librarian, presents reading club certificates to children for participation in the summer reading program called World Friendship Vacation Reading Club in 1947, Bowles was the director of the Whitman County Rural Library District when it was formed in 1945.*

Amy Ferguson checks-in returned books after they were quarantined for three days on Thursday at the library in Colfax. The Whitman County Rural Library District is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Ferguson is the branch manager of the Albion Library, and also works in the Colfax Library.