Self-Help in Ísafjörður was founded on September 29, 1958. Nearly forty people attended the founding meeting, including several sustaining members and one life member. A year later, the members had grown to about eighty. The first president of the association was elected Trausti Sigurlaugsson. Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir took over the presidency in 1961, but she passed away after several years of service, far too young. Among the issues the founding meeting addressed were an increase in disability benefits and ensuring that the benefit would not be reduced until a pensioner's income reached that of a laborer. A petition on this matter was sent to the Althingi. The association began fundraising, including through the sale of badges. Half of the proceeds went directly to the national federation's building fund, as was the case with many other associations. Monthly social gatherings were held, and discussions began about establishing light work for the members.
Regarding the social gatherings, the report from Ingibjorg Magnúsdóttir, the society's secretary, to the national association states: "They proceeded in such a way that first the societies' interests were discussed, and then the entertainment was enjoyed while they drank from their coffee cups."”
In 1961, a knitting workshop was established by the association and was initially housed in the basement of the swimming pool. It was the first employment-related activity for members in the area. "Gammósíur" were knitted in many colors and enjoyed tremendous popularity. However, due to financial difficulties, it was not possible to operate the workshop year-round.
A year later, in 1962, a major fundraising campaign was launched, and the association acquired its own building, 5 Mjallargata, along with the "Berklavörn" in Ísafjörður. The number of members had then grown to 48, with 44 supporting members and one life member. The building was two stories with only a staircase between them, but the facilities on the upper floor were nevertheless heavily used by both disabled and non-disabled people. That year, 1962, the national convention of Sjálfsbjörg was held in Ísafjörður, and there was a lot going on. A store was established in the new premises, and in addition, the SÍBS agency in the town was housed in the building, ensuring considerable foot traffic.
Just before Christmas in 1966, the Self-Help and Tuberculosis Prevention Society's building was severely damaged by a fire. Reconstruction was decided on regardless, but it was not completed until 1968. At that time, the main focus was on rebuilding the store and the Vinnuver workshop. The store continued to operate, but the workshop had been discontinued. However, weekly work nights were held that year.
The chairman of Sjálfsbjörg in Ísafjörður in 2009, on the 50th anniversary of Sjálfsbjörg lsf., was Stefán Björgvin Guðmundsson, while on the national association's 60th anniversary in 2019, it was Hafsteinn Vilhjálmsson.
