RICHLAND COUNTY MONTANA
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Picture
Sidney's first Library in the basement of the Yellowstone Mercantile building on Central Avenue, formed by the Woman's Club in 1914.
​The Woman’s Club developed Sidney’s first library. It first grew out of a study group and members operated it out of the basement of the Yellowstone Mercantile building on Central Avenue starting in 1914. They volunteered their time to staff the library and stocked it with donated books from the community. As the popularity of the library grew, the Woman’s Club recognized the need for more resources to meet the community’s needs. They approached the City of Sidney to take over operation of the library, and the city council approved their request, appointing a library board that included a member of the Woman’s Club. As the library grew, it changed locations multiple times, first moving to the Richland Bank Annex and later to other larger spaces. Faced with a budget crunch in the mid-twentieth century, the Woman’s Club again proved instrumental by helping to transform the library into its current form as a city-county library.

Our History

The Sidney-Richland County Library had its first home in the basement of the Yellowstone Mercantile building. Mrs. Earl Verco checked out the first book to the public in 1914. The ladies of the Sidney Women's Club formed a study club and from this group the idea was born to donate books and start a library. When the venture proved successful the group urged the City Council to take over the responsibility, which they did.
Through the years the library struggled with a very low budget. Eventually, the Women's Club again went into action and circulated a petition to make it a city-county library. This move was approved and it became the Sidney-Richland County Library, financed by city and county taxes. It is still financed in this manner.

The library has had several homes. The present building was completed in 1966. In the past, the library housed the Civil Defense rooms, a meeting room, and offices. The building is owned by Richland County.
In 1985, the commissioners realized the need for expansion and worked with the library and Montana State Library to apply for an LSCA building grant of $61,000, which was approved. Richland County supplied the matching funds for the addition that is now the front entry to the building.

In 2020, a $1.75 million complete renovation of the building doubled the library space, opening up the lower level of the building.  The renovation allowed for a dedicated story time space downstairs, classroom space for library programs and events, a Montana History Room on the upper level, an elevator, and all-new restrooms on the main and lower levels.  The renovation also made it possible for patrons to check out from any of 5 dedicated check-out stations.  A huge new parking lot in the back, along with new parking on all sides of the building, increased convenient access to the building for all patrons.

An endowment fund has been established for contributions to the library. These gifts are tax deductible. For more information, please visit the Richland County Public Libraries Foundation.

Location

Sidney-Richland County Library
121 3rd Avenue NW
Sidney, MT  59270
(406) 433-1917
Fax:  (406) 433-4642



Contact Us

(406) 433-1917
​[email protected]

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  • Home
  • Departments A-F
    • Airport >
      • DBE Program
      • Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan 2017
    • Building >
      • ADA
      • Building Permit
      • Downloadable Documents
      • Fees
      • General Q&A
      • Inspection Information
      • Occupancy Permits
    • Clerk & Recorder >
      • Document Standards
      • Elections
      • Polling Place Locations
    • Clerk Of District Court >
      • Marriage Licenses
      • Jury Duty Information
      • Court Calendar
    • Commission On Aging >
      • COA Advisory Council
      • Home Delivered Meals >
        • Forms
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Senior Centers
      • Congregate Meals >
        • Weekly Menus
      • Commodity Supplemental Food Program >
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Commodity Food Tips and Recipes
      • Homemaker Services
      • Health Screenings
      • Footcare
      • Respite Care
      • SHIP Program (Medicare)
      • Transportation
      • Employment Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Arthritis Management/Exercise Programs
      • Helpful Resources
      • Home Health & Respite Servies
      • Veterans Services
      • Assisted Living
      • Low Income Housing
      • Dental, Vision, Hearing & Health
      • Home Repair, Heating, Weatherization, and Utility Assistance
      • Misc. Help, Programs & Credits
      • Steps for Identity Theft Victims
      • Articles Of Interest
    • Conservation District
    • Commissioners
    • County Attorney >
      • Crime Victims
      • Duties & Powers
      • Law Enforcement
      • Legal Research
      • Witnesses
    • Disaster & Emergency Services >
      • CodeRed Emergency Notification
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Community Information
      • Evacuation >
        • Disaster Instruction
        • Siren Alert
        • Winter Storms
      • Hazardous Materials >
        • Disposal of Electrical Appliances
        • Inventory Reporting
        • Mercury Products
      • Kids & Emergencies
      • Local Emergency Planning Committee >
        • Board of Health
        • Planning Board
        • Safety Committee
      • Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
    • District Judge
    • EMS / Ambulance
    • Extension Office
    • Fair
  • Departments G-Z
    • Health Department >
      • 2025 Measles Information
      • Fall 2024 Flu Shot Clinics
      • Public Health Accreditation
      • Communicable Disease
      • Environmental Health >
        • Licensed Establishments
        • Junk Vehicle
        • Farmer's Market & Other Food Sales
        • E-Waste
        • Environmental Complaints
        • Water Quality
        • Air Quality
        • Septic Systems
        • Subdivision Review
      • Immunizations
      • WIC
      • Volunteers in Action MT
      • Family Planning
      • Chronic Disease >
        • Tobacco Use Prevention
        • Montana Asthma Program
        • Montana Cancer Control Program
      • Behavioral Health
      • Board of Health
      • Staff Directory
    • Justice Court >
      • Paying Tickets
      • Court Calendar
    • Library >
      • Learn More About Us >
        • Staff
        • Our History
      • My Library >
        • My Card Catalog
        • Let's Go Digital
        • Print from Anywhere
      • Newsworthy >
        • News
        • Programs & Events
        • 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
        • 100 Books Before Graduation
    • Museum
    • Planner >
      • Appendices
      • Zoning Commission
    • Public Works >
      • Maps
      • Permits
      • Landfill
      • Floodplain Management
    • Sheriffs Office >
      • 9-1-1 Dispatch
      • Crime Prevention
      • Detention Centers
      • Law Enforcement Association
      • Sidney Police Department
    • Superintendent of Schools
    • Transportation >
      • Schedule Your Ride
      • About Us
      • Service Area, Schedule & Fares >
        • Special Transit Trip(s)
      • How Are We Doing?
      • Transportation Advisory Committee
      • Employment Opportunities
      • Accessibility
      • Complaint Procedures
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Terms Of Use
      • Privacy Policy
    • Treasurer
    • Weed District
  • Documents
  • Residents
    • Communities in Action
    • Schools
    • Weather
    • Drivers License