The Friends of the Lafayette Library was incorporated in June 1939 as the Lafayette Cooperative Library Association. Prior to that they were busy as the Lafayette Improvement Club, from 1913 to 1939, helping to acquire buildings and find sites for the library. Did you know the library was once in the post office along with “telephone central”? The postmistress, Carrie Van Meter was also the librarian. The library was located in Town Hall for a time before money was raised to build the small building next to Lafayette Grammar School. The materials were provided by the WPA, but the fire insurance, building repairs, improvements and maintenance were the responsibility of the Association. The county provided the books and paid for the librarian. In 1949 the Library Association persuaded the county to take over the building. It was deeded to the county at that time and a small addition was built. The name was changed over the years officially becoming “Friends of the Lafayette Library” in October 1973.