Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson declared, “Every man able to read!” His own vast library was bequeathed to the people of America, becoming the Library of Congress.

The founders of our nation, in their wisdom, recognized the necessity for literacy and general education to secure the republic. An educated electorate was key to our success. This idea informs the Declaration of Independence, literacy being one of the “Guards for the future security” the new nation.

The founder of our library, Frances O’Brien, declared that “to make a town, you need a school, a church, and a library.” The same might be said for making a sovereign country: the necessity for free and accessible schools, churches and libraries. In this way the dream of the framers of the Declaration will be realized.

The O’Brien Memorial library is a place where our Blue River patrons find the vision and idealism of our founders alive and well. Our River Talks continue to explore the fundamental American virtues of freedom, equality and justice.

Blue River has been reborn from the ashes of the Holiday Farm fire, declaring, like the signers of the Declaration of Independence: we are here.