The Ruth Brady Wickes Library was dedicated on October 2, 1983. It continues a tradition of library services in South Side Saginaw, which began in 1911 with a small collection of books for children and adults in a classroom of the Washington School. This was enlarged as the South Saginaw Branch in 1927 and continued in operation until 1953 when a fire in the school forced it to close. The library bookmobile served the neighborhood until 1967 when the South Jefferson Branch was opened. A generous grant from the Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Foundation enabled the library to build the Wickes Library in 1982-83. Since then, the library has become a busy neighborhood library with an emphasis on programs and services for young people.