The Heart of Silverton: Our Little Carnegie Library
When I think of Silverton, I think of the mountains, the seasons, and our library.
For years, Jackie was our librarian, and we used to joke that we had the loudest librarian ever. Jackie retired not long ago, but her spirit of welcome still lingers in the stacks. Our new librarian, Misti, has stepped in with her own kind of magic—energy, creativity, and a spark that lights up the building every day.
Some of my favorite things about our library:
No strict due dates. Need a book for a week? Great. Need it for a month? That’s fine too. We trust each other here.
Real life flexibility. When we were traveling back and forth to North Carolina each summer to run camp, Phen was once obsessed with big truck books. Jackie just told us, “Keep them, we’ll see you in September.” That’s how this library works: real people for real life.
A Carnegie Treasure in the San Juans
Our library is housed in an old Carnegie building—one of the many libraries built across the country in the early 1900s. The brick and stone may be old, but the life inside is anything but.
The library hosts everything from toddler time to yoga classes, amateur bake-offs to Halloween parties. There’s book club + walking group, craft nights, and even DMV services (yes, you can renew your license here—no line, no headache). Every week brings something new, and the doors are always open to gather, learn, and connect.
More Than Books
One of the most meaningful changes in the past year has been the food pantry in the library entryway. Misti started it quietly, and it’s become a lifeline for many. Anyone can come and take what they need. More than once, I’ve been able to pull together a meal thanks to an extra package of chicken or a box of cereal I found there. It may be random—potatoes one week, flour the next—but it’s always a gift.
My Time Behind the Desk
Last year, in a season of transition, I started working at the library a couple of days a month. I’ve since stepped back with my new job, but I still fill in when the staff needs help. I treasure those days. To sit at the center of our community, to greet neighbors, to help someone find a book or print a form—it’s meaningful in a way that’s hard to explain.
And sometimes, when it’s quiet, I get to tuck into my own work while still being part of something bigger.
Hope for the Future
Like many old buildings, our library needs renovation. For a small town, the price tag feels daunting. But we also carry Jackie’s story: she once put a new roof on the library by selling rhubarb pies every Fourth of July for years until she had enough. If that’s not small-town grit, I don’t know what is.
The Silverton Library is more than shelves and walls—it’s the heartbeat of this community. It’s trust and kindness, resources and creativity, and a reminder that even in the most remote places, connection thrives.
Libraries are great. I love ours.
