About Us
| About Us |
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The long and short history of Kodiak’s Library: In 1923 Kodiak’s library was formed with 40 volumes through a woman’s club. Each member purchased one volume to help bring the world to Kodiak. After WWII a skid shack, once used as a Red Cross Serviceman’s club, became the home of our first library building. Kodiak Rotary club and avid readers supported it through donations and buying books. In 1944 four Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart came to Kodiak, and one, Sister Hilary, was educated in library work. She taught Fostina (Frostie) and Dr. A. Holmes Johnson about library work. The KPLA was formed in 1953 to build a local library for our growing community and to move the library’s collection from skid shack to a permanent building. The KPLA saw the library move into a small shop building on the downtown school grounds in 1956. The library remained in the old shop building for only 8 years; the 1964 tsunami eroded its log foundation and the building was condemned. Frostie Johnson served as volunteer librarian from 1946 to 1967. About this time the Rotary Club purchased a site and deeded it to the city of Kodiak.. On December 8, 1968, the new A. Holmes Johnson Memorial Library was dedicated and named for a local physician who had long been a champion of library service in Kodiak, who had also been active with Rotary. The original building which cost $245,000, was expanded in 1977 with the addition of the audio-visual wing, the children's wing in 1984, and the Alaska reference room in 1993. Over the years, The KPLA has supported the library by holding book sales and fundraisers to purchase books and make other special purchases not included in the regular city budget. KPLA is starting a comprehensive strategic plan to assess feasibility for a new library and to look at funding sources. Please help us pursue this dream and form a vision for our future!
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