Marion County Public Library System

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The Marion County Public Library System serves Marion County, Florida (located in central Florida) through nine library locations in the county. The nine branches serve over an estimated 400,000 people in Marion County, Florida. [1]

Contents

History

The first circulating library in Ocala opened in 1886 and was located in the Ocala News Department. It cost each member one dollar for a two-year membership and borrowing privileges. This establishment was followed by a library in the Hotel Ocala which was established by the Women's Library Association. [2] This enterprising group of women pursued the option of having a Carnegie Library located in Ocala. [3] Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Ocala Free Public Library in 1914. This act established the tax levy and community support required by the Carnegie Foundation as prerequisites for a grant. In 1916 the Ocala Carnegie Library was constructed on the site secured for this purpose in 1914. [3] In 1961 the City of Ocala, and neighboring Citrus and Levy Counties joined to create the Central Florida Regional Library. The other libraries that existed in Marion County (Belleview and Dunnellon) joined the system in 1964. Changes continued as Citrus County separated from the system in 1987 and Levy County in 1999. These changes resulted in what now stands as the Marion County Public Library System. [2]

Headquarters – Ocala Public Library

The first, permanent, physical library built in Ocala was the Ocala Carnegie Library, built in 1916. The Ocala Carnegie Library opened its doors on September 11, 1916, according to an article of the Ocala Evening Star distributed that same day. [4] Though the library was not fully furnished, it was decided to be opened on September 11 in order to avoid a further delay. The posted hours when the Carnegie Library first opened was weekdays from 8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 8 pm, but in subsequent issues of the Ocala Evening Star, the Ocala Carnegie Library's librarian, Louise Gamsby, made notice that the library's hours had changed to weekdays 9 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 8 pm. [5] [6]

The original Carnegie Library building was demolished in 1968 [7] to make way for the new Ocala Public Library constructed on the same site. The new Ocala Public Library was considered by some to be "unusual in many respects … a real asset to the community … a thing of beauty." [8] An article in the Ocala Star-Banner from 1967 described the new Ocala Public Library as "hexagonal in shape, not unlike that of a circus tent." [9] The hexagonal shape was chosen in order to for the library to have as much usable space while also not surpassing the budget. The plan was for all library services to take place on the first floor while the bookmobile and a workroom would have room in the building's basement. [9] The building used skylights and extensive use of glass walls in order to allow in natural light. [10]

Due to the extraordinary growth in Marion County from 1970 through 2000, the Ocala Public Library was once again in need of additional space. The six-sided Ocala Public Library closed its doors at 6 pm on June 19, 2004. The current Headquarters – Ocala Public Library was opened in August of 2004 in a refurbished department store. [11] The front of the building displays original mosaic artwork depicting subject areas of the Dewey Decimal System. [2]

Belleview Public Library

The Belleview Public Library is one of the oldest libraries in Florida that continues to serve the public. This library was originally opened in 1886 as a Reading Room by the Library Association of Belleview. The original structure fell victim to fire in 1904 and was rebuilt in the same location in 1908. This new Belleview Library location served the community of Belleview for many years to come. The building was modified several times from 1908 through 2008 when the Belleview Public Library finally moved into a new building [12] which was constructed on land that was a gift to the Marion County Public Library System from the Goolsby family in honor of their parents. Today the old Belleview Library building is home to the Friends of the Belleview Public Library and their used book store. The Friends of the Belleview Library run, in conjuncture, The Belleview Historical Library Museum in the used book store and have preserved library related artifacts dating from 1836 to present. [2] [13] [14]

Dunnellon Public Library

In the 1950s the Dunnellon Women's Club provided the first lending library in Dunnellon. It consisted of a few shelves of books and volunteers from the Dunnellon Women's Club maintained the small collection. In 1961 a library was built in Dunnellon on land donated by the City of Dunnellon. This library location served Dunnellon until 2008 when the current building was completed and the new Dunnellon Public Library opened. [2] [12]

Forest Public Library

The Forest Public Library was first located in an old bookmobile which was staffed with volunteers. In 1996 the Forest Public Library moved into a permanent structure where it served the community until 2010. In 2010 a new Forest Public Library was constructed and library services were significantly expanded. [15] The new Forest Public Library is a LEED certified building, the first Gold certified LEED building in Marion County. [2]

Fort McCoy Public Library

The historic Fort McCoy Public Library building sits on land that was deeded by Percy F. Lisk to the Marion County school system in 1932. In 1936, the schoolhouse was built. The property and building were later deeded to Marion County in 1989. [16] In June 1996, the Fort McCoy Public Library opened its doors. The Fort McCoy Public Library's building also includes a pre-existing auditorium space with a beautiful stage, original hardwood floors, and an open seating area. This historic building has undergone significant renovations to more appropriately house the library and serve the community. [2] [17]

Freedom Public Library

The Freedom Public Library opened in 2000. [18] This library building provides library services to community members residing in the southwest corridor of Marion County. The Freedom Public Library's name was the result of a process where community members offered possible names for the library location and the County Commissioners chose the name from those suggestions [2] [19]

Marion Oaks Public Library

The Marion Oaks Public Library began as a result of community members coming together to provide public library service to the community. Volunteers of the Friends of the Library raised the funds, secured the current location in the Marion Oaks Community Center, and staffed the Marion Oaks location with the express desire that it become part of the library system. In 1996 their hopes were realized when the Marion Oaks Public Library became part of the Central Florida Regional Library System and subsequently part of the Marion County Public Library System. [2]

Reddick Public Library

In 1988 the Reddick Public Library opened in a church fellowship hall. Since 1993, then it has moved into the former Reddick Elementary School media center and continues to serve the community members in the northwest area Marion County [2] after being leased to the Marion County School Board. Reddick Public Library had its 35th anniversary in 2023. [20] Operations originally funded by the Town of Reddick were gradually assumed in the library system's budget. [21]

Sankofa Public Library

Sankofa Public Library is located in the Mary Sue Rich Community Center in Ocala, Florida. Sankofa Public Library opened its doors to patrons on January 10, 2023. This community center is named after Mary Sue Rich, former City of Ocala Councilwoman. [22] Along with the Sankofa Public Library, the Mary Sue Rich Community Center has two basketball courts, gym equipment, and event space. [23]

https://library.marionfl.org/

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Marion County is a county located in the North Central region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 375,908. Its county seat is Ocala. Marion County comprises the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. It includes part of Ocala National Forest, which also extends into three other counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunnellon, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,928 at the 2020 census, up from 1,733 in 2010. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocala, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Ocala is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Florida, United States. Located in North Central Florida, the city's population was 63,591 as of the 2020 census, up from 56,315 at the 2010 census and making it the 43rd-most populated city in Florida. Ocala is the principal city of the Ocala metropolitan area, which had a population of 375,908 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reddick, Florida</span> Town in the state of Florida, United States

Reddick is a town in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 US census, the town population was 449, down from 506 in 2010 US census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort McCoy, Florida</span> Unincorporated community in Florida, United States

Fort McCoy is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is situated northeast of Ocala and lies between the towns of Sparr and Eureka on County Road 316 and is directly north of Silver Springs on County Road 315. The community is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Silver Springs is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County of northern Florida. It is the site of Silver Springs, a group of artesian springs and a historic tourist attraction that is now part of Silver Springs State Park. The community is part of the Ocala metropolitan area. It was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 2,844.

The Florida Northern Railroad Company, Inc. is one of several short line railroads run by Regional Rail, LLC. It has connections to CSX at Ocala, Florida, running north to Lowell, Florida, and south to Candler, Florida. It was formerly run by CSX as their Ocala Subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion Oaks, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Marion Oaks is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,034. The community is currently exploring becoming an incorporated city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Lakes Estates, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Rainbow Lakes Estates is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion and Levy counties, Florida, United States, established as a Municipal Services District. The Marion County part of the community is part of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Levy County portion is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 3,438.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort King</span> United States historic place

Fort King was a United States military fort in north central Florida, near what later developed as the city of Ocala. It was named after U.S. Colonel William King, commander of 4th Infantry Regiment and the first governor of the provisional West Florida region.

Belleview High School is a school located In Belleview, Florida. It serves the Belleview area and the southern part of Marion County, Florida. The school mascot is the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and the school colors are blue, silver, and white. The school offers an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program. The 80-acre (320,000 m2) campus has a stadium with seating for 2,000 people and a Gymnasium capable of holding 1,400 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AdventHealth Ocala</span> Hospital in Florida, United States

AdventHealth Ocala is an acute care non-profit hospital in Ocala, Florida, United States. The healthcare facility is owned by the Marion County Hospital District, and has been leased to AdventHealth since 2018. The hospital district is largely funded by the US$213 million paid to the district by Community Health Systems in 2014 for the right to operate this facility. CHS sold their lease to Adventist Health System in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs (attraction)</span> Group of artesian springs in Marion County

Silver Springs is a group of artesian springs that feed into the Silver River in Marion County, Florida. It is the largest artesian spring in the world and the site of the oldest commercial tourist attraction in Florida, and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Its main features are the glass-bottom boat tours on the river, which have operated there, in various forms, since 1878. Long privately owned and operated, the springs area was formerly the site of a small amusement park, Silver Springs Nature Theme Park.

<i>Ocala StarBanner</i> Daily newspaper in Ocala, Florida

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Dennis K. Baxley is a state legislator in Florida who has served in the Florida Senate since 2016. A Republican, he represents the 12th district including Sumter County and parts of Lake County and Marion County in Central Florida. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of Marion County from 2000 to 2007 and again from 2010 until his election to the Senate in 2016. He served on the Belleview City Commission and as its mayor.

Dunnellon High School is an American secondary school located in Dunnellon, FL. The school serves students from Marion, Levy and Citrus counties. The student population of 1050 is 58% majority and 42% minority. Dunnellon High School is served by two magnet programs: The Advanced Studies Program and The Power Generation Academy. The Advanced Studies Program is an academically accelerated program for students in Grades 9–12. Fifty students in each grade take Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment classes on the DHS campus. They also are assigned an adult mentor from the Administrative Team and participate in education and college field trips. The Power Generation Academy allows students to learn about the production of power and energy, from multiple sources. The program is supported by Duke Energy and is great for students interested in careers in engineering and power generation.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocala Carnegie Library</span> Building in Ocklawaha Avenue in Ocala, Florida

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Hampton Junior College, located in Ocala, Florida, opened its doors in 1958. It was one of eleven black community colleges which were founded, at the urging of the Florida Legislature, to show that a "Separate but equal" educational system for blacks existed in Florida; the Legislature wished to avoid the integration mandated by the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954. At the time, the closest public college that would accept negroes was Florida A&M University, 175 miles away.

References

  1. ↑ "United States Census Bureau". U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Public Library System Business Plan". Marion County, FL. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Cook, David (January 6, 1991). "Ocala Embraced Carnegie Library". Ocala Star Banner.
  4. ↑ "Library is Open". The Ocala evening star. September 11, 1916. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Library Hours". The Ocala evening Star. October 28, 1916. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Library Hours". The Ocala evening star. November 6, 1916. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Making Way for Progress Top Job". The Ocala Star Banner. October 10, 1968.
  8. ↑ Cook, David (August 8, 1983). "Public Library Needs Support From Community". Ocala Star Banner.
  9. 1 2 "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  10. ↑ "Shielded from Weather". Ocala Star Banner. April 7, 1969.
  11. ↑ "The new library is expected to meet this community's needs well into the future". Ocala Star Banner. January 26, 2002.
  12. 1 2 Curry, Christopher (July 29, 2008). "Check it out Residents flock to new library branches - NEW ARRIVALS". Ocala Star Banner.
  13. ↑ Jervis, Laura (June 19, 2008). "Friends of Belleview Library take over old building". Ocala Star Banner.
  14. ↑ Daniels, Harriet (May 30, 2008). "Belleview library gets new home - GRAND OPENING - Building is 4 times as large". Ocala Star Banner.
  15. ↑ Opperman, Michael (February 10, 2010). "Grand Opening Forest Public Library". Ocala Star Banner.
  16. ↑ Jensen, Karen (2019). "Then & Now: Celebrating Marion County's 175th year anniversary". WORDS: MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY’S QUARTERLY NEWSMAGAZINE. The Friends of The Ocala Public Library. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ Tobias, Lucy B (June 23, 1996). "Old Fort McCoy school bound for glory". Ocala Star Banner.
  18. ↑ Miller, Austin L (August 25, 2000). "OCALA -- Residents in southwest Marion County are looking forward to having a place close to home to read, relax, and do research". Ocala Star Banner.
  19. ↑ "OCALA -- The new branch library that will serve the State Road 200 corridor is now known as "Freedom Public Library." County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously adopted the top name recommended by the library naming committee. The other two finalist names were "Community Public Library" and "Francis C. Marion Public Library."". Ocala Star Banner. May 4, 2000.
  20. ↑ Jensen, Karen (Fall 2023). "Happy 35th Anniversary Reddick Public Library". WORDS: MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY QUARTERLY MAGAZINE the Friends of the Ocala Public Library: 5.
  21. ↑ "Marion County Public Library - Reddick Branch Public Library". local.aarp.org. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  22. ↑ Callahan, Joe (September 7, 2022). "Marion County Commission: Library at Mary Sue Rich Community Center will be named Sankofa". Ocala StarBanner. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place". Ocalafl.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
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