History

Anadarko Community Library

215 West Broadway
Anadarko, OK 73005
(405) 247-7351. 1-888-607-1747. Fax (405) 247-2024

Please click photos for larger view!

Excerpt taken from the Anadarko Centennial Book, Anadarko: Our First 100 Years 1901-2001

The first library in a Anadarko was an Oklahoma Women's Federation Library, which was kept on shelves at the Gish-Baker Furniture Store. The Lyceum Traveling Library of 1, 000 volumes was sent to Anadarko in 1903. This collection plus forty more donated books became known as the "Philomathic Collection" and was kept in a small room in the American Democrat Office. With books from a "Book Shower" by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, books bought by the Philomathic Club members, and with donations, the collection reached 1,400 volumes. In 1907, it was moved to a room on North Fifth Street, which had a side street entrance. The Library Committee, the Philomathic Club, and the Commercial Club formed the Library Association. On March 18, 1907, a constitution was adopted, and the library became known as the "Philomathic Library and Rest Room." The object of the Association was to provide standard and current literature, and to provide a reading room and rest room for the general public. Membership in the Association was of two classes: annual with a fee of one dollar ($1), or life with a fee of ten dollars ($10). This idea was not new, for Benjamin Franklin initiated the Subscription Library early in the history of our country.

By 1912, the library had moved to a room in city hall, and later became the Anadarko Public Library. The city council, in 1914, passed an ordinance making it a department of the city. In the early years, the librarian earned her salary of one dollar ($1) a month by keeping the room clean and "carding" the books when they were checked in or out. The library board members were appointed to committees to find and purchase books they felt appropriate, thereby relieving the librarian of the privilege of book selection and ordering. They also opened, read, and sorted the mail. The library remained in city hall until 1936 when it was moved into the Masonic Building. At the time, this was a wonderful place for the library and they were glad for the space. But as the years went by, this room became much too small for the library that Anadarko's citizens needed and deserved.

Library Past

Photos taken from the Anadarko Centennial Book,
"Anadarko: Our First 100 Years 1901-2001."

Library Present

In the mid-1980s, the library began, in earnest, to locate another site for the library that would be large enough and would be accessible to all citizens. In 1987, the city council allowed the board to hire architect Don Beck, of Beck Associates Architects, and also to apply for a grant to help fund the library. Various locations were considered, and with the help of Mr. Beck, who specialized in renovating historical buildings, the vacant, sixty year old building that had been the Roy Hall Chevrolet Dealership was chosen.

Photo taken from the Anadarko Centennial Book,
"Anadarko: Our First 100 Years 1901-2001."

The library board at the time was composed of Marilyn Buzbee, chairman; J.D. Sanders, secretary; and members Nancy Roberson, Walt Stangle, and Glenda Scaffetta Cook. Joan Hines was the librarian. The Anadarko Community Library Trust was formed to raise the necessary funds. The trust was chaired by Betty Bell; Evelyn Boake, secretary; Joyce Milton, treasurer; and members of the trust were Jim Donahue, Dr. Robert Slavin, Doug Hall, Cindy Fletcher, and Sarah Stangle. In less than a year, the group raised $604,016, exceeding the original goal of $500,000. A venture that seemed almost impossible became a reality with the backing and support of the entire community. Memorials and donations came from individuals, families, and businesses. School children held fund-raisers, and local and area civic clubs donated. The trust sought and was awarded numerous grants from foundations. Hollytex Carpet Mill and its employees donated the Community Room, which was dedicated to long-time employee, Marvin Elrod. The children's section was donated by the Paul Allen Foundation in honor of his mother, Faye Gardner Allen, who worked in the library during her high school years.

There were some who doubted that an old auto garage could be made into a library, but Mr. Beck (along with the library board) turned the old building into a beautiful, spacious, inviting place, retaining the feeling of the "old" while adding the functionality of the new. Wide-open spaces, lots of natural lighting, warm colors, and climate control make it a very pleasant place to be. Of particular interest is the children's "reading pit" which was once the grease pit of the garage.

On completion of the facility, books were moved from the Masonic Temple using the "Book Brigade", hundreds of people forming a hand-to-hand assembly line, into the library doors and onto the waiting shelves.

The Anadarko Community Library was formally opened in September of 1990. Since that time, the library has become fully automated and offers computers for use by adults and children. Gina Wooster is the head librarian, Elise Moore is serving as the Webmaster/Library Aide, Toy Pendarvis and Shaun Base serving as Library Aides.

The Anadarko Community Library has received numerous honors, such as the Oklahoma Department of Commerce's award for Best Historic Rehabilitation Project in 1991, and ranking in the top 3% of the nation's 1,228 public libraries in the 5,000 population category in 2000, which landed the ACL in the top ranking for Oklahoma.

Christina Owen, Former Head Librarian
Photo published in the November 18, 2001 Daily Oklahoman.

The Anadarko Library has made its way from a small rest room to a beautiful, fun place to visit! We are so proud to have a library such as ours!

For more Anadarko History, please visit Dale Talkington's Anadarko Memories site or visit the Oklahoma Centennial site featuring contributions by Christina Owen, Former Head Librarian.