Fredda Hinz has been Manning's librarian since 1945.

The Manning Public Library Association was organized in August, 1886. A membership fee of one dollar per year was charged. The library was started with a case of 30 volumes and was located in the State Bank. In June, 1895, a Woman's Reading Circle was organized and they took charge of the library, and increased the stock of books to 160 volumes. They subscribed to Iowa State Traveling Library which furnished them with 100 volumes per year. It was opened to the public on Saturdays from two until five o'clock. By 1900 the library was no longer in existence.

In 1928 the American Legion Auxiliary gave a sum of $394 and an agreement was made with the city council to use the city hall for a library. The money was used to build bookcases and a board was appointed to help carry on the work. The library was opened in January, 1929 and books were rented from the Denison Library for several years. Many organizations helped to build the library by donating money and books. Auxiliary members donated their time and took care of the checking in and out of books. In 1934 the library was taken over by the town and has since been supported by both city and county taxes.

The first board to be appointed by the city included: Mrs. D.W. Sutherland, Mrs. Henry Meyers, L.E. Qualley, Luther Tate and Mrs. Jack West. In 1934 Mrs. Myrtle Porter was appointed the first librarian. In 1939 she resigned and Ida Motter was appointed. After she resigned in 1945 Mrs. Harry Hinz became librarian and has held that position for the past 34 years. It has been through the direction of Mrs. Hinz that the library has grown steadily. In 1955 the town voted to build a new City Hall and the library now has the east wing of that building. The library has grown from a book collection of about 1800 in 1934 to about 11,000. Many books have been presented to the library as memorials. Clubs have given books as a memorial each time a member dies. The American Legion Auxiliary each year continues to give a donation to help the project they started in 1929. The Rotary Club has been generous. They set up a shelf in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brunnier. Mr. Brunnier was born and raised in Manning, became an architect and assisted in designing the Golden Gate Bridge. Each year the club gives books for this shelf and it now consists of 150 volumes.

In July, 1979, the library board including Mary Stangl, Sue Puck, Millicent Wiese, Clifford (Bud) Johnson and Darlene Schrum sponsored a Fredda Hinz day to celebrate the library's 50th anniversary. A special reception and open house was given to honor Mrs. Hinz for her 34 years of service to the library. During the reception a portrait of Mrs. Hinz was first displayed. The portrait commissioned by the library board of Trustees was painted by Virginia Lee Mickunas of Des Moines. She is the daughter of Amos Lee, a former Superintendent of Manning schools. The portrait will hang in the library in honor of Mrs. Hinz's services to the community.

The Manning Development Corporation was formed in February, 1960, by John Horbach, Jr., Harold Juels, Francis Zerwas, Harold Sanders, Justin Zentmeyer, and Richard Crandall. It was their plan to provide land for future industrial expansion in Manning.

The corporation sold $100,000 in stock to about 200 area residents and purchased 60 acres of land from G.T. Voge. This land, at the west edge of town, was zoned for commercial and industrial use. An additional 60 acres was purchased from Feike Antone in October, 1972. Part of the site was utilized for the swimming pool, homes, and other lots.

The first building was erected on the site in 1960-61. It housed a lampshade factory for several years, and today is part of the L.R. Nelson Corporation which manufactures water sprinkler systems. Two additional buildings have since been added for the Nelson firm.

A large building, which is being rented by the City of Manning for a garage, was constructed in 1974-75.

At the present time, grading for two access roads and a frontage road is underway. Future plans include more roads and up to 20 commercial lots.

The corporation continues to have about 200 stockholders. Officers are Orval Fink, president; Richard Crandall, vice-president, and Walter Felker, secretary-treasurer. Directors are Merle Stoelk, Lyle Arp, Francis Zerwas, Elmer Mueller, Harold Juels and George Pfoltner.