The Community Library Association

The Community Library Association includes a Main Library, a Children's Library and bookmobile, a Learning Commons, and a Center for Regional History. Approximately 70,000 visitors came to the Community Library in the past fiscal year; more than 135,000 items were circulated; and more than 9,000 adults and children attended free programs and classes. The collection includes approximately 80,000 physical circulating items and also digital resources, including access to online databases and learning platforms. All of these services are provided to the public for free.

The Library's Center for Regional History houses a collection of more than 10,000 photographs, 500 oral histories, 2,000 books, and also maps, documents, three-dimensional objects, and ephemera. It includes a special Ernest Hemingway collection pertaining to the author's extensive time spent in the Sun Valley area. It also is responsible for the stewardship of the Historical Hemingway House and Preserve. The Center for Regional History is used by professional and amateur scholars, students, and visitors to study the history of Ketchum and Sun Valley, and Central Idaho generally. The Center for Regional History also includes the Regional History Museum. (Continued on Schedule O)The Museum of History is the exhibit space of the Library's Center for Regional History and is located in Historic Civilization Conservation Corps Buildings owned by the City of Ketchum. It includes permanent exhibits on local history, ski history, and Ernest Hemingway, as well as short exhibits and traveling exhibits. The Museum is visited by school groups, tourists, and residents. Last fiscal year, more than 2,000 people visited the museum. Admission is free.

The Community Library provides free educational programs to both adults and children. These include lectures, author readings, story time, a summer reading program, and community book clubs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Library pivoted and expanded virtual program capacity. This has continued to be a popular option. The Community Library launched the Sun Valley Early Literacy Summit this year. The Sun Valley Early Literacy Summit is a 3-day educational seminar for teachers of kindergarten through third grade which focuses on methods to improve literacy instruction. 36 teachers attended this year.