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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
“The East Central Regional Library System is one of the greatest successes of history in our city, and hold it in the highest regard. It is a treasure.”
Cambridge Mayor Marlys Palmer shared her sentiments about the library system during a kick-off celebration held Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Cambridge Public Library, which serves as headquarters for the East Central Regional Library (ECRL) system.
Pictured: Barbara Misselt, director of the East Central Regional Library System, and Bob Boese, former director of the system from 1986-2007, visit during the library system’s 50-year anniversary celebration held Nov. 5 at the Cambridge Public Library. (Photos by Rachel Kytonen)
The open house at the Cambridge Library was the beginning of month-long celebrations to be held at all the libraries in the ECRL system, in honor of its 50-year anniversary.
More than 150 distinguished guests, including city and county officials, and library patrons from across the state attended the celebration.
Also providing welcoming remarks included Barbara Misselt, ECRL director; Ron Drude, Isanti County ECRL board member; Nancy Dunbar, Cambridge librarian; Senator Rick Olseen and Suzanne Miller, state librarian.
Bill Asp, former state librarian and ECRL director, who flew in from Georgia for the celebration, was the featured speaker.
Dunbar, who is serving as the first Cambridge branch librarian, moved to Cambridge in 1983.
“One of the first places I went to was the library,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar worked at the Cambridge Library for 18 years before leaving to pursue a career in teaching. She was hired as the Cambridge librarian in February.
“I came back because of the wonderful patrons and library staff,” Dunbar said.
Palmer was excited to see so many familiar faces in the audience, and mentioned her sister was in town from Florida and her mother was also in attendance.
“Our citizens wish the East Central Regional Library System the continued success it has seen the past 50 years, and happy anniversary as you celebrate throughout the month of November,” Palmer said.
Olseen, who has lived Sunrise Township for 25 years, was honored to speak at the library celebration, and feels he has always been an advocate of the library system.
“My history with the library system goes back a number of years,” Olseen said. 
Pictured:Harpist Sally Ahlgren provided light music during the celebration Nov. 5 at the Cambridge Public Library.
Prior to becoming a state senator, Olseen served on the Chisago County Board of Commissioners and North Branch School Board.
In 2006, Olseen carried a bill that increased library funding by $1.5 million, and noted this was the first increase in library funding in a number of years.
Olseen said he also supports the Isanti Area Friends of the Library and their efforts to build a branch library in Isanti.
“Fifty years is quite a milestone, and the East Central Regional Library System is a wonderful system,” Olseen said.
Asp, who served as the ECRL director from 1967-1970 and was the state librarian for 20 years, was complimentary of the library system.
“There is no agency where you can get more bang for your buck than a regional library,” Asp said. “The state legislators from this area have always been supportive of funding the library.”
Asp touched on the personal relationships he formed while in Cambridge.
“Those three years were informative years in my career and in my life, and I made friends here that have become life-long friends,” Asp said. “We’re here celebrating connections.
“The library staff here is open, accommodating and kind. That’s true here at the headquarters and at libraries throughout the region,” Asp added.
About the ECRL system
In 1959, Isanti, Mille Lacs and Pine counties signed a tri-county agreement.
The first regional library opened in Princeton that same year with a book budget of $25,000.
In 1960 bookmobile service began, and the headquarters building in Cambridge opened and circulated 292 items the first day.
Aitkin County joined the system in 1964, followed by Kanabec County in 1967 and Chisago County in 1970.
The ECRL system consists of 14 library branches, an outreach program with two link sites, a materials budget of $397,500 and circulation averaging over 3,100 items per day.
More anniversary celebrations are planned throughout the month at the branch libraries.
Visit http://www.ecrlib.org/ for more detailed information.
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