Homewood Public Library

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The Homewood Public Library is located at 1721 Oxmoor Road in the city of Homewood. It is a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Over 30,000 patrons per month use the library's services, which include a collection of over 92,000 books, plus audio-visual materials. The library also offers meeting rooms, terminal-based and wireless internet access, computer classes, and special events for children, teens and adults. The library director is Deborah Fout.

The library earned a Three Star Rating in The Library Journal Index of Public Library Service 2009. The index rates 7,115 public libraries according to four output measures that indicate public service: circulation per capita, visits per capita, program attendance per capita, and public Internet uses per capita. The top libraries in each category were then assigned five, four, or three stars. A total of 256 libraries received star ratings. Only three public libraries in Alabama received ratings. Read more at [We Know Books, ETC.]

Gov. Bob Riley presented Homewood Public Library a letter and certificate of recognition for earning a Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in Library Service. In order to receive this award, a library must meet or exceed more than seventy specifications based on the population of the city or county that established the library. Read Gov. Riley's letter and Certificate of Recognition at [We Know Books, ETC.]

The library was voted as Jefferson County's "favorite library" in 2002.

History

The library was established on March 24, 1941 with no more than 3,000 volumes, including 1,000 on loan from the Jefferson County Free Library, in 30-by-18 foot room provided by the city council on the 2nd floor of Homewood City Hall. The first library director was Mary Katherine Switzer.

In the late 1940s or early '50s, the city bought six lots on the southwest corner of Oxmoor and Roxbury Roads for $6,000 to build a library building. In 1951, residents approved a two-and-a-half mill property tax for civic approvements, including the library building. The building was designed by William Chambers and built by Capitola Construction Company at a cost of approximately $68,000. Groundbreaking took place in September 1951 and the new facility opened on May 7, 1952.

By the late 1970s, the city council was again considering expansion of the library. In 1982 the council and library board settled on the Homewood Chuch of Christ building a few blocks down Oxmoor near the intersection of Central Avenue, which was purchased for $1.2 million. Architects Paul and Walter Anderton and firm Sherrod Construction were hired to remodel the church. The new facilty, which is still in use, opened on March 1, 1987.

In 1996, a major renovation of the building was started. Bricks were inscribed with donors' names to help raise funds for the $3-million project. The renovation was designed by Davis Architects and built by M. J. Harris, Inc. The grand reopening was held on April 16, 1998.

There is a legend that the former church was constructed on ground sacred to the natives of the region. Librarians have reported odd noises and falling books. Some workmen during the 1990s renovation witnessed electrical cords moving on their own.1.

Gallery

The Library houses the Ellenburg Art Gallery which showcases the work of local artists, craft groups, and other exhibits on a monthly schedule.

Trustees

The first library board, known as the Library Committee of the Homewood City Council, was established in May 1941. It consisted of city councilman James A. Head and members of four Homewood civic groups: Mrs. C. A. Thompson of the Shades Cahaba PTA, Mrs. F. G. Hamner of the Edgewood Elementary School PTA, B. C. Matthews of the Lions Club, and Dr. Paul Shannon of the Exchange Club.

Today the Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees includes representatives from each of the city's five voting wards. The current board includes David Smalley (chair), Don Whaley, Ann McKoy Chapman, Sharon Grier Evans, Julee Potter and Jackie Langlow (City Council liaison).

Preceded by:
undeveloped 		1755 Oxmoor Road
1952–1987 		Succeeded by:
Assistance League of Birmingham?
Preceded by:
Homewood Church of Christ 		1721 Oxmoor Road
1987–present 		Succeeded by:
current

Notes

  1. "Haunted Sites" - 2008

References

  • Summe, Sheryl Spradling. (2001). Homewood: The Life of a City. Homewood, AL: Friends of the Homewood Public Library.
  • "Haunted Sites of Alabama." (October 2008) Lipstick magazine. p. 52-3

External links

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