L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, WI

Long before Eau Claire became a city, its citizens were among the first in Wisconsin to consider the necessity for a public library. On December 28, 1859, a group of men met at the home of Dr. David H. Ketchum and formed a library association with an election of trustees that included Thomas Barland. The first librarian was Henry C. Putnam. Since that first meeting the public library in Eau Claire has grown from a display case kept in the Mahler and Putnam store on Eau Claire Street, the Carnegie building and eventually to its present location today. Recently published and written by library staff, The Public Library in Eau Claire, is a complete history of our library from 1860 through 2009.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library is a member of Eau Claire Area Chamber of commerce Since 1993.