By Friends of the Dayton Memorial Library President Pearl Dennis

I go into my library and all history unrolls before me. - Alexander Smith

Maintaining a thriving library within a rural community relies on committed individuals who are driven by a desire to improve their communities. Dayton has been blessed with a long line of civic-minded individuals dedicating their time, energy and resources towards developing and building the Columbia County Rural Library District.

The history of the Dayton library dates back to 1919 when a small “self-improvement” club, the Elizabeth Forrest-Day...