A Brief Timeline and Some Origin Stories

MSL History from 1895 to Present

Scroll through this annotated timeline to see major events and milestones. You can expand to full screen view and then press the ESC key to return to a smaller view.

Locations

The MSLEC and State Library were housed at the University of Montana in Missoula from 1929 to the late 1950s. Rent-free locations on campus included Main Hall, Rankin Hall, Social Sciences Building, and a World War I barrack. A leased office on South Avenue was the last location in Missoula.

The image above is linked to the digitized version of the 1937 Sentinel Yearbook. Click on the image and a new browser tab will open up for you to page through the digital version.

In 1965, through the support of Governor Babcock, the MSLC moved to a converted warehouse at 930 East Lyndale Avenue in Helena. The next move was to 1515 East 6^th Avenue in 1982 when the building now known as the Joseph P. Mazurek Building was completed.

The image above is linked to the Justice Under the Big Sky Collection in the Montana Memory Project. Click on the image and a new browser tab will open up for you to access the full collection. You can learn more about the building on the Historic Montana website.

A flood in July 2022 prompted the agency to move again to 1201 11^th Avenue in November 2022.

History and Services Overview

The early years of the State Library Commission were focused on developing services and resources to provide access to libraries for all Montanans—particularly those whose communities did not already have that access. As needs and technology have changed, the services supported by the Commission have also evolved. State and federal funding have supported services at varying levels throughout the history of the Commission and State Library.

State Librarians

In the years from 1929 to 1965, one Commission Chair and three State Librarians served. 10 individuals have served as State Librarian since 1970, including Alma Smith Jacobs—one of Montana’s most honored librarians.

Commissioners

105 individuals have served on the MSLC since 1929. By law, the Librarian at the University of Montana was designated as the Secretary and Chair of the MSLEC/MSLC. In the early 1960s, the Commission Chair requirement changed to allow for election of the chair from the members of the Commission. In 1964, Kathleen Campbell retired after having served as both UM Librarian and Commission Chair for more than 20 years. 

Five members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor. One member is appointed by the Commissioner of Higher Education and must a professional librarian. Terms for appointees are three years. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or a designee, is also a member. 

For a complete list of Commissioners, read more on the History of the Commission webpage. 

Before 1929

There is a lot more to learn about the early history of public libraries and the development of a state commission.  If you have about 10 minutes, here's short video that captures some of that early history.