The Idaho Enterprise – June 2, 1988
In 1957 Ione Jones had a dream–a dream of a new library for Oneida County.
And because of her tireless efforts and strong leadership in rallying people to the cause, her dream was able to become a reality in 1977 when a modern new library was dedicated on 1st West in Malad.
Tomorrow, June 3, between the hours of four and six, Ione will be honored at an open house at the library in recognition of the contribution she has made to the residents of Oneida County. It’s a chance for the citizens here to say “Thank you” for all she has done.
Appointed to the State Planning committee to promote the library in Oneida County by Governor Robert Smiley in 1957, after the United States Congress had passed the Federal Library Services Act, Ione went about engulfing herself in the effort.
A year earlier the small library that had served the county for years in a tiny room in the basement of the courthouse had been closed for lack of space and revenue, and residents were without the benefit of any facility at all.
She organized a group of civic-minded citizens to develop an interest in a library. That group set a goal to secure support for a library in an election to adopt an Oneida County Free Library District. They called themselves the “Friends of the Library.”
They were successful in their efforts to obtain funding in a special election held March 11, 1958. Shortly thereafter, the Board of County Commissioners authorized re-opening of the library in the basement of the courthouse with enlarged space. The very first library board was appointed: Sarah Palmer, Pearl Jones, John V. Evans, Waldo Blaisdell and Ione Jones. Mrs. Jones was elected by the group to be Chairman.
In the 1970s a new possibility presented itself when state grant monies became available for libraries, and the library board began to have visions of building a brand new building specifically for the purpose of housing the Oneida County Library. They wasted no time in developing their idea.
The result was that on April 18, 1977, a new Oneida County Library, now under its own roof, was opened to the public. The brick building was dedicated five months later on September 29th, by then Governor John V. Evans who just happened to have been a member of the original library board of directors. Oneida was only the fourth district in the state to be able to accomplish this goal. Much of the reason was due to the hard work put in by the library board in obtaining state and federal grants to make it possible.
At dedication ceremonies special recognition was given to Griff Jenkins, Board Treasurer, Helen M. Miller, State Librarian, and Ione Jones, Board Chairman, as being among the main cogs of the wheel to bring the dream to reality.
“Throughout her years on the library board, Ione has served with diligence and great determination to find ways to help make the lives of the people living in Oneida County better,” states Head Librarian Helen Price on the eve of the scheduled open house. “She has given much to us, and it is our hope that by holding an open house we can, in a small way, say “Thanks,” and maybe give just a little back to her for what she has given us.”
Ione and Dewey Jones, now in their fifty-eighth year as a married couple, have lived in the Malad Valley all of their lives and have raised a family of three children.
Besides being the first Chairman of the Oneida County Library Board, Ione has also been president of the Oneida County Republican Party, a Director of the Idaho State Women’s Bowling Association, Secretary of the Malad City Women’s Association, a past Matron of Acacia Chapter–Order of the Eastern Star, a past Grand Warder of Idaho–Order of the Eastern Star, and a member of the Malad Eagles Auxiliary.
We salute her for her contribution to the people of Oneida County.
Note – Ione’s full name is Charlotte Ione Evans Jones.