Fort Worth Public Library

Fort Worth Public Library is the public library system that serves the city of Fort Worth, Texas. The Fort Worth Public Libraries consist of 16 branches including the central library and two regional libraries.[1]

Fort Worth Public Library
Established1901
LocationFort Worth, Texas
Branches16
Collection
Size2.065 million
Access and use
Circulation4 million
Population served686,850
Other information
Budget$16,994,721
DirectorManya Shorr
Staff207
Website
Map

History

In April 1892, 20 women formed the idea for the city's first library while meeting at the home of Jennie Scott Scheuber. Under the Fort Worth Public Library Association, this association received its state charter and with the financial support from Andrew Carnegie they brought the Fort Worth Public Library into existence.[2] Carnegie donated building funds for the construction of more than 2,000 libraries in the United States and from 1886 to 1919 he donated $56 million.[3] Carnegie suggested to the founding women that they ask the local gentlemen for "the price of a good cigar" to help raise the necessary local supporting funds. When the City Council approved spending $4,000 per year to run the library, Carnegie contributed $50,000 for the building.[4] The Carnegie Public Library of Fort Worth opened on October 17, 1901, at Ninth and Throckmorton streets.

Central Library

Fort Worth's Central Library expansion officially opened October 22, 1999. On March 28, 2000 the Fort Worth Tornado caused over a million dollars in damage to the new Central Library.[2]

Central Library has a spacious Learning Commons for patrons to enjoy a book, magazine, or use a computer. The Central Library also offers its users free Internet access at the computer lab or with WiFi.[5] Computer classes are available to promote information literacy. The Genealogy, Local History and Archives unit is housed within the Central Library; the Archives are also the official municipal archives of the City of Fort Worth.[6]

Fort Worth Central Library Computer Lab

Regional Libraries
  • East Regional - opened (1996 (1996))
  • Southwest Regional - - opened (1987 (1987))

Branches
  • Butler Outreach Library Division (BOLD) - opened (1997 (1997))
  • Cavile Outreach Opportunity Library (COOL) - - opened (1994 (1994))Diamond Hill/Jarvis - opened (1989 (1989))
  • East Berry - opened (1967 (1967))
  • Meadowbrook - opened (1961 (1961))
  • Northside - opened (1967 (1967))
  • Ridglea - opened (1967 (1967))
  • Riverside – opened (1961 (1961))
  • Seminary South - opened (1967 (1967))
  • Ella Mae Shamblee -opened (2008 (2008))
  • Summerglen – opened (November 2000 (November 2000))
  • Wedgwood - opened (1962 (1962))
  • Northwest – opened (2010 (2010))

Partner library systems

Partner systems, which accept the MetroPAC cards accepted by the Fort Worth system, include:[7]

References
  1. "Locations and Hours". Fort Worth Library. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  3. Richard Rubin. Foundations of Library and Information Science. Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2004.
  4. .
  6. "Genealogy, History, Archives". Fort Worth Library. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  7. "Locations and Hours." Fort Worth Library. Retrieved on January 27, 2009.
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