The State Library will mark its 165th birthday tomorrow with a day-long celebration.State Librarian Mary Wegner says the State Library was established in 1838, when Iowa became a territory. Wegner says the State Library has two big responsibilities: it serves as the information source for state government employees and it is to work with libraries throughout the state to promote access and improved services. The State Library is not the largest library in Iowa. Wegner says it’s a very specialized library. For example, it is the repository for Census information and important state documents. There’s a law library in the Capitol building. A medical library is located in the State Library. The State Library is in the just-renovated Ola Babcock Miller Building — formerly known as the Old State Historical Building. It sits just to the northeast of the Capitol. Wednesday’s festivities at the State Library begin at 10 o’clock. Three authors will read from their books, including a newly-published book about the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa. Wegner says there’ll be birthday cake and a couple of local bands will perform, too.
