With no nearby public or elementary school libraries, Dally Memorial was formed through the dedication and tenacity of a group of local educators in Sardis, Ohio who came together in February 2002 to form Riverfront Library Association. The Children's Defense Fund reports 2000 reading proficiency rates of 48.6% for Monroe County sixth graders. This compares with 54.9% reading proficiency for sixth graders in all of Appalachia and 53.2% proficiency for all sixth graders in the state. State requirement is 75%. The mission of the Riverfront Library Association is to bring library services and literacy programs to children and adults in surrounding communities along the Ohio River.