The upper-level museum at Minnesota Pioneer Park in Annandale was packed. A brief presentation was made by Marilyn Gordon about the Gordon Memorial Library, and there were refreshments that followed.
Dozens had gathered for the grand opening of the Gordon Memorial Library to be housed in the museum, which is open to the public all year ?Äôround.
The collection includes donated books from the late 1800s through World War II. Included among these is a 1893 Encyclopaedia Brittanica set. There also are a number of books in Finnish and Swedish. The library collection contains magazines from the period as well.
Ms. Gordon, a long-time school teacher and librarian in Kimball, explained that they have several school textbooks from the period, something that?Äôs not common. In those days, it was up to each family to provide
textbooks for their students, and these were passed along in the family. Those books that survived are in very fragile condition.
The library is named for the Gordon family ancestors who settled in the area, not in Marilyn?Äôs name, although she played a large role in establishing and developing the library.
Marilyn Gordon spoke at the grand opening for the Gordon Memorial Library Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3. The library is named after her ancestors, not for her. Staff photos by Jean Doran Matua.
Materials in the library are there for research only. Most of them are too fragile (and difficult to replace) to be lent out. The museum is open year ?Äôround, so the public will have access to the library all year.
The library committee includes Cheri Antl, Don Gadow, and Gary Weir who were all present for the grand 
opening.
Ms. Gordon acknowledged the extensive assistance of Anita Tabery; she and Gordon have carefully catalogued every single item in the collection. (At some point this catalog will be computerized.)
When someone pointed out that there are 1,800 such items, Ms. Gordon quipped, ?ÄúAny wonder I?Äôm tired.?Äù
There are 1,800 catalogued books in the Gordon Memorial Library collection. They cover the time frame from the late 1800s through World War II. The library is for research only, and books cannot be loaned out.