Reservation town's library nearly finished

By Jomay Steen, Journal Staff Writer | Sunday, October 31, 2004

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ALLEN - A small town's dream of a library is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Targeting the spring of 2005 for its completion date, the Allen community — population, 1,500 — broke ground for its library in September. The $1.2 million library's construction is funded through foundation and private donations. A Buffalo, N.Y., architect has donated the design of the two-story structure that will house 60,000 books, newspapers, periodicals and computers.

Lydia Bear Killer, Pass Creek District council representative, said the new library is long overdue and will serve the entire reservation.

"This is the first public library on the reservation that's not part of a school or college," she said.

Paul Richardson was the project's grant writer, she said. Richardson also serves as vice president of the library board. Other officers are Patricia Perkins, president; Terryl Blue White Eyes, treasurer; and Martha Pettigrew, secretary.

"We've pretty much finished with the fund-raising part. We're waiting for the blueprints, and then we're going to bid out the job," Patricia Perkins said. "We're really excited."

Perkins said the upcoming elections will not affect the library's construction, because the project is a community effort.

Bear Killer and Perkins said the group worked for about a year to get funding and donations from the Ford Foundation, Verizon Wireless, (Pine Ridge's) Tribal Economic Development Committee, University of South Dakota at Vermillion and other sources. Local individuals stepped forward to donate money for newspapers, magazines and periodical subscriptions.

Currently, all the libraries on the reservation are connected to schools or colleges and exclude the community.

"I have to buy books," Perkins said.

Perkins isn't allowed to borrow from any of the libraries that are on the reservation. Because she is not a student, she is not allowed to check out books.

Additionally, many Allen families struggle to find work, adequate housing or simply to make ends meet. They can't afford books or newspaper subscriptions.

But the community knew that a library would benefit people on the reservation, she said.

"We looked at the literacy rates of our adults, which are low," Bear Killer said. "We want to teach adults and our elderly about computers. We want to have an after-school program, and it's going to be family oriented."

Terri Davis, public services manager of the Rapid City Public Library, said that in a democratic society, libraries are the great equalizers.

"It doesn't matter if you cannot afford to buy books or have Internet computer access. The public library can provide those services," she said. "I'm really excited to hear they're starting a library from scratch."

Davis, who has worked in public libraries for 29 years, said libraries enrich all lives through personal interest, independent study, shared ideas, book discussion, writers groups and as a gathering place where people can find things out.

"The library is the logical place for these groups to gather," Davis said.

Because of the availability of services, resources and technologies, Bear Killer sees this as a clear benefit for the community and reservation.

"We did whatever we could to get this library," Bear Killer said.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com