September 1937 — Two pairs of woolen stockings, and galoshes

On the evening of Wednesday, September 8, 1937, the library trustees told the council committees that both branches were "entirely inadequate and unsanitary." What followed was not the usual deputation.

John M. Holley said he was ashamed to be a member of the board, once he had studied the conditions in the two branches. P. M. Gelatt said he was ready to vote to close the south branch outright if nothing was done. Andrew Lees said the board would be justified in closing both. These were, the Tribune reported, "the most pungent of all expressions heard by the committee."

Gysbert Van Steenwyk, by now secretary of the board, gave the numbers: eight thousand volumes on the north side, six and a half thousand on the south. Then he gave the detail that ended the argument.

the south branch librarian had to wear two pairs of woolen stockings over her regular stockings as well as galoshes while at work during the severe weather last winter

— The La Crosse Tribune, September 9, 1937

A. H. Sanford added that forty percent of La Crosse held a library card, that the city spent fifty-nine cents a head on its libraries where it should have spent a dollar, and — for the second time that year, from a second man — that the City of La Crosse had never spent a cent building one.

Alderman Arthur O. Scott called the conditions deplorable and moved that plans be drawn. The committees recommended that the board of public works and the trustees prepare plans, specifications and estimates, and select new sites.

Five months after the council had answered with a survey, it had ordered a building.