From Bar Backroom to Modern Marvel

Chanhassen’s journey to library service began modestly in 1978 with a tiny “demonstration library” set up in the old village hall. Lacking even a restroom, staff had to lock the doors and use the facilities at nearby Pauly’s Bar. The temporary branch proved popular, and in 1979 a successful referendum paved the way for an official city library.

By 1981, the library opened with 2,300 square feet and 37 service hours per week. Over the next two decades, its space and services expanded despite setbacks—such as a 1983 flood caused by failed sprinklers and temporary closures due to renovations.

Public demand for more space led to a 2001 referendum, spearheaded by Jill Shipley and the Friends of the Chanhassen Library, which passed with the support of 70% of the voters.. Construction of a new state-of-the-art library was planned for Kerber Boulevard. Completed in 2003, the building symbolized Chanhassen’s growing commitment to literacy, technology, and community engagement.

Since then, innovations like RFID systems, Sunday hours, and automated check-in systems have kept the branch on the cutting edge.

(Sources: Carver County Historical Society, Lois Fiskness)

A Legacy of Civic Leadership

Chaska’s library began not with shelves, but with shoeboxes. From 1871 to the early 1900s, a box of books at Theis Variety Store and reading groups laid the foundation for what would become one of the county’s most community-driven libraries. Around the turn of the century, women from the Chaska Culture Club gathered donated volumes and stored them at the Carver County State Bank, where bank employee K.K. Klammer served unofficially as librarian.

By 1920, the newly formed Chaska Civic League—made up of determined local women—launched efforts to establish a real library. They hosted “silver teas” to raise funds, collected books from residents, and secured a $40 grant and classroom space in the Park School. On February 7, 1923, the Chaska Public Library opened. Its first borrower, Norbert X. Brinkhaus, checked out Camp and Trail by Stewart Edward White.

Emma Klammer, remembered as the “Mother of the Chaska Library,” volunteered for 25 years, ordering and processing all books. During the Depression, a “nickel book” system helped cover costs. In 1939, the WPA funded the first paid librarian, Grace Gibson. The library grew thanks to civic volunteers, including Annette Ess, who ordered books for years with help from a $95/month city grant.

Though an early proposal for a county library system failed in 1962, Chaska persevered when George and Marcie Klein donated their family mansion for use as the new library in 1965. That same year, the Friends of the Chaska Library formed—an active group that quickly grew to 200 members and renewed the push for county-wide service.

In 1974, Chaska became a driving force behind the referendum that created the Carver County Library System. New technologies followed: microfiche catalogs (1977), computerized interlibrary loans (1980), and expanded regional access through MELSA. A fire in March 1980 caused smoke and electrical damage, but thanks to quick action by local emergency services, the library reopened by fall.

In 1988, the library moved into a new shared building with City Hall at 4th and Pine, further modernizing services. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Chaska staff adapted with virtual programs, quarantined materials, and appointment-based technology access—sustaining community connection through unprecedented times.

Now approaching its next transformation, the Chaska Library looks ahead to a new building expected to open in 2028—continuing a long tradition of grassroots energy, civic generosity, and local pride.

(Sources: Lisa Oberski, Chaska History Center)

A Tale of Two Towns

The cities of Norwood and Young America each operated local library services as early as 1912, participating in Minnesota’s traveling library system. In 1975, Young America joined the county system with a full-service branch. When the two cities merged in 1994, so did their libraries—streamlining services and creating a unified resource for the growing population.

In 2010, the library moved into the Oak Grove City Center, a welcoming space with updated facilities that reflects the town’s civic pride. Today, the Norwood Young America Library continues to serve as a vital gathering place and information hub for residents in the county’s western region.

(Source: Carver County Historical Society)

The Modern Frontier

Victoria’s library journey began with innovation. In 2009, the city debuted Minnesota’s first library kiosk—an express, self-service facility designed for quick pickups and returns. The success of this model fueled the eventual opening of a full-service branch in 2015.

As the newest full library in the system, Victoria’s branch is designed with flexibility and future growth in mind. It’s part of the Chanhassen cluster and emphasizes community programs, tech access, and smart space use.

As evidence of Victoria’s forward-thinking vision, the library will be Carver County’s first “Extended Access” site in September 2025, which allows patrons access to library resources at times the library is generally closed. This modern library meets the needs of a rapidly developing city while remaining rooted in the county’s historical commitment to service.

(Source: Carver County Historical Society)

Legacy of the Literary Society

Waconia’s library story began in 1889 with a $1-a-year literary association—more book club than library—where members exchanged both ideas and personal books. In 1906, a lending library opened in Dr. Rankin’s home with donated materials, later moving to the local drug store to take advantage of the state’s traveling library system.

In 1935, the Girl Scouts’ “book roundup” gathered 500 volumes to launch a public library on First Street. The city council provided $10 per month, and 72 library cards were issued at the open house. Volunteers ran the library, raising funds through bridge parties and silver teas, while adding reference materials and expanding the collection. In 1952, the library moved into the new City Hall alongside municipal offices and the museum, though hours remained limited.

Growth accelerated in the 1960s with the hiring of Mrs. Edward (Lydia) Sudheimer as librarian, expanded hours, and a push for more space. Circulation more than tripled between 1959 and 1965. In 1975, Waconia became a founding branch of the Carver County Library System, which brought county funding for staff and materials, longer hours, and access to MELSA’s regional network.

The Friends of the Waconia Library, formed in 1986, continue to provide vital support, funding extras from encyclopedias to Summer Reading Program prizes. By the late 1990s, Waconia’s library welcomed over 150 daily visitors, with a collection of more than 25,000 items, internet access, and year-round programming.

Today, the branch remains a thriving center for learning and community connection—still rooted in the civic pride that launched it over a century ago.

(Sources: Carver County Historical Society, Marydel Ketcham)

A Small Town with Big Vision

Founded in 1939 and opened in 1940 in the old City Hall, the Watertown Library began with modest resources—just one day of service per week. Despite its small size, the library quickly became a center of civic engagement and continued to grow throughout the mid-20th century.

By 1990, the community gathered to celebrate the library’s 50th anniversary, marking five decades of quiet transformation. As a founding partner in the Carver County Library System, Watertown played a critical role in building support for the 1974 referendum.

Today, the library continues to serve as a cornerstone of downtown Watertown and a model of small-town resourcefulness.

(Source: Carver County Historical Society)