Resources and Services

The main floor of the building houses the library's physical collection, in an open floor plan.  The upper level features the children's department and the street level features the young adult, adult, and movie areas.  There are approximately 22,000 physical items are available for checkout, which encompasses print books; over twenty magazine subscriptions; three newspaper subscriptions; movies on DVD and Blu-ray; audiobooks on compact disc, music cd's; over eighty cake pans and decorating kits; outdoor games and sporting equipment; and tabletop/board games.

An additional 38,000+ ebooks, 23,000+ audiobooks, and 4,000+ magazines available for download through Libby by OverDrive, to read/listen on virtually any electronic device.  Your library card allows you to access these via your account in the library catalog, or by going directly to https://libbyapp.com/.  Ask a library staff member for details or assistance with your device.  Other electronic resources include several databases where library users can access medical information, journal articles, online reference, legal information, historical records, and suggestions on what to read next.

Other resources and services available at the library include use of copier/printer, free Wi-Fi access throughout the building and grounds, faxing services (with fee), use of large format vinyl cutter, heat press, laser cutter, and 3D printers (fee for consumables), and three meeting rooms of various sizes available for rent.

The library has eleven public access computers available for use. Each computer is running the Windows 11 operating system and has the Microsoft Office suite available (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for use, internet browsing capabilities, and printing.

Access your library account online

Click on the Library Catalog link in the blue menu on this page, or at www.GenevaLibrary.com. In the top corner of the Library Catalog screen, use your four digit library card number and your ten digit telephone number to access your account online. Click on the My Account button. Here you can change see what items are checked out, renew items, place holds, or request the library purchase a specific title.

Organizations 

The Fillmore County Genealogical Society houses materials in the library, and holds meetings the first Monday of each month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The public is welcome to attend.

History
The following is an excerpt from "The Fillmore County Story" edited by Wilbur G. Gaffney, copyright 1968, combined with information from the Geneva Business History Committee, and library staff.

The Geneva Public Library was originally the idea of Dr. H. L. Smith.  In June, 1897, Dr. Smith donated some 2,000 books from his personal library to the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders for public use.  These books were housed in a room on the third floor of the Masonic Temple.

The library was first placed under a board of nine trustees from the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.  The lodges were to alternate in the majority of the board year by year.  J. M. Ward was president and W. H. Stewart was secretary of the first board.

The library was later moved to a room on the first floor of the Citizens Bank building at 9th and G Streets.  Dr. Smith granted free rent on condition that the library belong to the City of Geneva on approval of the Masons and the Odd Fellows; this approval was given.

The library was accepted by the City and on January 15, 1906, Mayor A. H. Stevens appointed the first city library board.  On November 12, 1906, the library board appointed Miss Nellie Williams, who later became the wife of W. C. Bleaven of Washington, D. C., as the first librarian at the salary of $21 per month.  She served until November, 1915, when she took position with the State Library Commission at Lincoln.

When the library was opened as a city institution on January 1, 1907, an appeal was made to residents to subscribe to magazines for the library and to donate books.  The first subscription-to the Review of Reviews for 1907- was the gift of Hon. Charles. H. Sloan.

The building was open on Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. for the delivery and return of books.  The reading room was open was open for “the perusal of magazines, papers, and reference books” every weekday afternoon and evening from 2 to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m.

On February 13, 1910, the Citizens Bank building burned and the library suffered a loss of $3365.40 in books, on which $2000 insurance was paid.  The library was given temporary quarters in the lecture room of the Baptist Church at 11th and G Streets.  Later the library was housed in a rear room in the Dempster Block.

In the meantime, the trustees contacted Andrew Carnegie about building a new library.  After lengthy correspondence and negotiation, a plan was approved.  Carnegie furnished $8,000 upon the assurance from the City that the tax base was sufficient to support a library of this size. Local subscriptions raised an additional $2,000 and the library building was erected.  The ground was purchased from Shumway heirs for $1,900.  The four Shumway heirs each gave $100 toward the purchase and the remainder was raised by popular subscription and a Tag Day which netted over $150.  R. W. Grant of Beatrice was the architect.  On May 7, 1912, L.L. Fisher’s bid on the construction contract was accepted.  The contract for the heating plant and hardware was awarded to Walter Spear.  Mr. G. F. Skinkle supplied the lighting system, and Mr. C. W. Hrubesky the cork floor matting.  The new library building was dedicated on January 7, 1913 with an open house from 2 to 6 p.m.  The Geneva Military Band played at 4 p.m. and at 8 p.m. a program was given in the library audience room.

The library board at the time of the erection of the present building was composed of: E. J. Dempster, Sarah (Mrs. H. P.) Wilson, B. Koehler, Elnora (Mrs. M. U.) Hadsell, the Rev. Charles Becker, Dr. J. Bixby, the Hon. Charles H. Sloan, County Superintendent Alice Jennett (later Mrs. James S. Real of Alhambra, California), and Miss Hattie Little.

Mrs. Isabel Bixby succeeded Miss Williams as librarian in 1915 and held this position for the next 33 years, during which time the Geneva Public Library grew and increased its services.  Free library privileges were procured by the citizens of Geneva township, Chelsea township, and for a time, Madison township.  In 1917, the library received the first of many bequests to a trust fund from the will of Mrs. Pierce B. Brayton, who was president of the library board from 1906 to her death in 1911.

In 1949, Mrs. T.B. Moore became acting librarian for Mrs. Bixby, who was in poor health.  In 1950, Isabel Bixby retired and Thelma J. (Mrs. Howard W.) Hamilton, who had acted as librarian from June 1950, was appointed librarian in 1951.  Mrs. Hamilton served for 37 years.  During the 1950’s, the library was modernized with new flooring, new lighting, new roof and insulation, and new air conditioning.