| Anadarko
Community Library |
|
Contributed
by Christina Owen. |
1899 |
In
January before the rise of the new Anadarko, ladies formed a
literary
society called the Philomathic Study Club. Mrs. Charles R. Hume
served as the club’s first president. |
| 1901 |
Land Run
/ Anadarko opened. The Women’s Christian Temperance
Union held a reception and book shower so that the new arrivals
may feel the civilizing influence of a library. (Several books
were donated, one of which is in the librarian’s office
at the Anadarko Community Library today.) |
| 1903 |
First traveling
library books came to Anadarko and were kept on shelves
at the Gish & Baker Furniture Company and were later moved
to the office of the American Democrate (the local newspaper).
Two conflicting records show this timeline as 1901 or 1903. |
| 1907 |
On February
2nd the Philomathic Study Club and Commercial Club
organized a library association and it was called the Philomathic
Library and Rest Room. |
| 1908 |
The Philomathic
Library and Rest Room was renamed The Anadarko
Library. In October the city of Anadarko voted to make it a
real “public” library by granting a 1/10 mill levy.
Miss Marion Frantz, librarian, received a salary of $1.00 per
week. |
| 1920 |
The library
has a collection of 6,700 volumes. |
| 1935-1936 |
Library
has a circulation of 20,946 books with appropriations from the
city of $2,900. |
| 1936 |
The library
moved to the Masonic Temple. The library became a
beneficiary under the will of W. A. Dixon in an unusual manner.
Mr. Dixon left $25,000 to the Blue Lodge of the local Masonic
order to build a Masonic Hall, which is known as the W. A. Dixon
Memorial Temple. The use of the lower floor was offered to the
city of Anadarko by the Masons to be used as a public library
in exchange for the maintenance of the building and grounds.
The library moved in April to the building. |
| 1987 |
The Anadarko
City County voted to allow the library board to apply for a
construction grant from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries
and to match the amount. ODL awarded a grant of $125,000. |
| 1988 |
The Anadarko
Community Library Trust was formed to raise the additional funds
needed to purchase and renovate the chosen site. |
| 1989
|
In February
fund raising began. By September funding for the building
and remodeling were assured. |
| 1990 |
A human
chain of volunteers braved the blazing sun on September 10th
to pass, hand-to-hand, books from the old Anadarko Public Library
to their new home in the new Anadarko Community Library. An
Open House for the new library facility was held on September
23rd. |
| 1993 |
The Anadarko
Community Library becomes fully automated. The
Winnebago Circulation/Catalog software is chosen because it
is the software all of the Anadarko public schools use. Also
added was a 3M security system. |
| 1995 |
A $17,200
grant is secured from the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation
for the Fay Gardner-Allen Children’s Library Multi-Media
Computer Project. Four new computers with CD-ROM drives, a printer,
software and specially made desks were added to the children’s
section of the library. |
| 1997 |
A $90,000
grant is secured from the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation
for the enhancement of the Fay Gardner-Allen Children’s
Library Multi-Media Computer Project. |
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