Pre-1900
The first library to be established in Nebraska was the military post library at Fort Atkinson. The library was removed in 1827 when the post was abandoned. The territorial legislature passed several acts that incorporated library and literary associations. The first of these was the Otoe County lyceum and literary association approved January 26, 1856. The Brownville lyceum, library and literary association (February 9, 1857) and the Falls City library association (December 21, 1861) quickly followed Otoe County's lead.
The State Law Library was established in 1854. Institutions of higher learning provided libraries for their students in the 1860s and '70s. The State Historical Society was established in 1878 and started its library.
The oldest public library, probably not a free, tax-supported library was established in Lincoln in 1875. Omaha (1877) and Crete (1878) followed suit. The first public library act was approved on February 25, 1875 and applied only to Brownville
SENATE File No. 77 to establish public libraries in Nebraska was introduced and passed in 1877. It made provisions for funding through taxation, for governance by an elected board of nine directors chosen from the citizens, term of office, providing the facilities and for any penalties or other regulations necessary to provide library service. The law was amended in 1901 to add "free" in one paragraph and changed the maximum levy from one mill to two mills." (Nebraska Blue Book, 1915, p. 867)
The movement nationally toward the establishment of state library commissions was gathering steam in the 1890s. The fledgling Nebraska Library Association (1895) was interested in library legislation from the beginning. They attempted to start traveling libraries using the University Extension as a base. "Professor Jillson, [2nd NLA president], noted at the second meeting (1896) of the Association that no state commission [was] needed at present, a committee would prove sufficient." (NLAQ v.26, #1, 1995, p 12)
In 1897 the first bill to establish a public library committee in Nebraska was drafted by the newly formed Nebraska Library Association. Seven states at this time had a state library commission. This bill, HR 174, failed to pass the legislature. The seeds had been sown, however. The next bill, HR 206, was introduced in 1899. The bill proposed "an act to create a Public Library Commission, define its duties, and for organizing a system of traveling libraries for the state of Nebraska, and making an appropriation of $2,000 for the purchase of books and equipment of collection of books therefor." (House Journal 1899, p. 638). Defeat came with 59 nays to 29 yeas and those not voting as 12. (NOTE: HR 206 passage incorrectly reported in the House Journal of the Legislature of the State of Nebraska.)
The Lincoln Woman's Club lent its support (1897) to the traveling library movement, started by the State Federation. Interest in the Library Commission was brought before the people on Library Day, December 17, 1900. Programs were presented on the need for a traveling library, and legislation necessary to maintain the library. The result was a petition signed by those present to be sent to the legislature. A committee was appointed to look after the library bill. Mrs. H.H. Wheeler was instrumental in supporting this effort. (History of the Lincoln Woman's Club, 1916, pp. 20-21)
The Nebraska Library Association, The Nebraska Federated Woman's Clubs and the Nebraska Teacher's Association joined forces in 1901 to inform and educate the people of Nebraska about the need for a Public Library Commission. They mounted a vigorous newspaper campaign to promote the cause of library service to the people of the state.
The ensuing pressure from the people resulted in HR 20, which was introduced by Representative David Brown of Nebraska City. It was passed and signed by Governor Dietrich and became law on March 26, 1901.