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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Homer Public Library

Homer, Alaska

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Homer.

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2Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

2017 to 2019Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

4,614Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Homer, Alaska.

Discover another side of Homer, Alaska through newspapers preserved in the Homer Public Library's digital archive. Its two titles include material from 2017 to 2019.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected titles

    Homer Public Library shares titles including “Homer Tribune”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • A closer look

    Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.

The reporting of earlier years offers a way to explore how events were understood as they happened and how local experiences became part of the historical record. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse two titles and 4,614 digitized pages, with material from 2017 to 2019. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Homer Public Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.

Homer Tribune

3,366 pages from 2017 to 2018

Homer Tribune

1,248 pages in 2019

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About the Archive

About The Homer Public Library’s History Archives

The Homer Public Library Archives are free to use and accessible at any time by visiting the library. This archive is only available while on library premises, and we invite you to explore these valuable resources in addition to the other services available at the Homer Public Library.

Homer Public Library photo 1

About the Library

About The Homer Public Library

The Homer Public Library, located in Homer, Alaska, serves as a vital hub of knowledge, learning, and community engagement. Established in the 1940s by dedicated members of the Homer Women’s Club, the library has grown to become a cornerstone of the community, offering a wide range of services and programs for all ages. The library's mission is to connect the community with information, resources, and opportunities for lifelong learning.

Library History

The History Of The Homer Public Library

The Homer Public Library’s journey began in 1938 when Anthony J. Dimond, the territorial delegate, contacted Mabel Shotter, a teacher in Homer, to help form a library. In the 1940s, led by Arleen Kranich, the Homer Women’s Club worked to house the library in an old school building, acquiring books from Washington D.C. and collecting local donations. The library was incorporated to receive $50.00 in operating funds from the State. By the 1950s, the Dewey Decimal System was implemented. During the 1960s, the library operated out of the old fire hall with the help of volunteers. The 1970s saw a growing demand for a larger facility, and in 1978, the library became a department of the City of Homer. A new 3,500 square foot library was completed in 1979 at 141 W. Pioneer Ave., with BJ Mauseth as Homer’s first professional librarian. The collection included 8,000 books. By 1990, library use had more than tripled, and by 1999, the library was filled to capacity with more than 35,000 books. In 2002, a Capital Campaign for a New Library Project was launched, raising $8.1 million to build a 17,000 square foot facility at the corner of Hazel and Heath Streets. On May 16, 2005, volunteers and the public participated in a march from the old library to the new site for the Groundbreaking Ceremony. The Grand Opening of the new library at 500 Hazel Ave. was held on September 16, 2006.

About the Community

About Homer, Alaska

Homer, located in southern Alaska, is known for its rich history and diverse cultural influences. The city boasts a unique blend of French, Spanish, British, Creole, Catholic, Greek, and African legacies, reflected in its architecture, cuisine, and traditions. Visitors can explore the History Museum of Mobile, historic downtown streets, and various historic homes. Homer is also home to the Mobile Carnival Museum and Mobile Medical Museum, providing a deep dive into the local heritage.

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that Homer, Alaska, is often referred to as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World"? Another interesting fact is that the Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile-long piece of land jutting into Kachemak Bay, is one of the longest road-accessible spits in the world. Additionally, Homer’s unique location allows for breathtaking views of glaciers and mountains, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. The library’s history is deeply intertwined with the community’s development, showcasing the town’s growth from a small fishing village to a vibrant hub of cultural and educational activities.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Follow a story beyond the first mention

The history of Homer includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Homer Public Library, begin with a name, place or date connected with the story you want to explore. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story.

When a promising newspaper lead runs out, check the dates and titles represented before trying another name, place, or nearby issue. Keep unsuccessful searches with useful findings; gaps in coverage can limit what a search reveals. Use the dates and references to shape your next question, not as proof a missing result never existed.

As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.

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Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Homer Public Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.

Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.

Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.

Learn about partnerships
Read All About It

Stories, research tips, and archive news

Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.

Newest published articles

March 18, 2025

It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?

We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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