Wendell Public Library

Wendell Public Library Sherburn Merrill Smith accidently shot himself through the stomach, inflicting a wound that was for six days feared to be fatal. Smith's mother, Mrs.

With the tragic death of Wendell State Bank President in October 1912, the Wendell Library was born. William Chester of New York donated Smith's books, many of them leather bound, to be used as the Sherburn Smith Memorial Library. From this small core a library grew, housed first in a room at the bank. The library books were moved to the building that was the Post Office on Avenue A when Wendell S

tate Bank merged with First National Bank of Wendell in 1915. In 1918 it was moved to the Beaton Wendell Inn which the city acquired as a City Hall and in 1919 it was moved to the new City Hall built on Main Street. The library shared the Water Works office in 1921 until March 1962 when the City Council agreed the library had grown too big for the office and had it moved to the basement of city hall where it shared space with the furnace and coal bins. The basement library was remodeled in 1980 and the old coal bins were removed to make additional space for more books. On July 26, 2003, the Wendell City Council and the Wendell School Board met during a city council meeting and entered into an agreement for additional city hall property. The city had acquired the old Middle School Library building on the east side of the new city hall building for the city's new library, in exchange for the chip sealing of the parking lot next to the High School Gymnasium. Now the library serves as a center for information, community enrichment, recreation reading, and lifelong learning. The library contains over 23,000 volumes and offers audio and video tapes as well. Popular programs include summer reading programs and story hours. Special events such as author visits and guest speakers are scheduled several times a year. The library is on an interlibrary loan program with the City of Gooding and Shoshone and offers public internet access. The library is governed by a four member Library Board, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Funding for the library is through property taxes, user fees, and private donations. The Library is open five days, thirty hours a week. Future planning includes relocating the Library to a larger building recently acquired by the City. The new facility is planned to house a community center as well.

09/04/2026

The winner of our Double Bubble guessing jar was miss Kelilah Cooper! She guessed 94 and the number was 95!

MomNMe make what you want day was a blast! MomNMe will resume after Labor Day, on September 14! We can't wait to play ...
09/04/2026

MomNMe make what you want day was a blast! MomNMe will resume after Labor Day, on September 14! We can't wait to play with you!

Thanks miss BrookeAnn for teaching us about Thailand and thanks to the Henderson's for bringing our special guest Bowser...
09/04/2026

Thanks miss BrookeAnn for teaching us about Thailand and thanks to the Henderson's for bringing our special guest Bowser the turtle! Join us next week for an šŸŽ of a storytime!

09/03/2026
Don't miss this worthwhile opportunity to improve your grades or GPA and HAVE FUN AT THE LIBRARY! Beginning Wednesday, S...
09/03/2026

Don't miss this worthwhile opportunity to improve your grades or GPA and HAVE FUN AT THE LIBRARY! Beginning Wednesday, September 9!

Come and explore Thailand with Miss BrookeAnn at this week's STORYTIME! Join us this Thursday at 11 AM for stories, son...
09/01/2026

Come and explore Thailand with Miss BrookeAnn at this week's STORYTIME! Join us this Thursday at 11 AM for stories, songs, snacks and FUN as we learn about a different part of the world we share! WE HOPE YOU CAN COME ALONG!

This is Paige Conover, a new member of our WPL staff! She loves YA fantasy and chocolate! She's also pretty clever wit...
09/01/2026

This is Paige Conover, a new member of our WPL staff! She loves YA fantasy and chocolate! She's also pretty clever with words. Come in and see if you can solve one of her puzzles! Prizes for kids of all ages!

08/31/2026

Putting the A in STEAM at this week's Mom -N-Me Playtime! Join us Monday, 8-31, at 10 AM for a "Create What You Want," art day!

Address

79 Pocatello Street N
Wendell, ID
83355

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+12085366195

Website

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