| Carmen
Public Library |
|
Contributed
by Carmen Cain |
Small
towns usually don’t have public libraries but Carmen
has a very modern library with over 5,000 books, 50 videos,
magazines & periodicals available to the public. The public
also has the opportunity to surf the Net online and use First
Search. There is not a school in Carmen and we feel that with
the computers we can help the school children with their class
work through upgraded technology. It will also be a help to
local businessmen and farmers. |
1930 |
On
February 19th the Modern Research Club met to make plans for
a
library. The first library was in a room donated by the First
Bank. The name chosen was “The Carmen Research Library”.
The first set of books purchased was Encyclopedia Britannica.
The money was raised by cake sales. Husbands of club members
built the shelving. |
| 1948
|
The Boyce
sisters were librarians from 1948 until their retirement in
1981. |
| 1958 |
The library
was moved to the McGreevy building on Main Street. |
| 1982 |
In June
the Carmen Town Board passed an ordinance creating a library.
On June 1st the library reopened after being closed for several
months. The Progressive Study Club and Homemakers Club were
to sponsor the library. They had several fund raisers to pay
for the remodeling of the building. The Town Board had hired
Ruth Johnson to be the librarian. The Carmen Library joined
the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The first library board
appointed by the Town Board were Mrs. Larry Collins, Mrs. Ralph
Cain, Mrs. Terry Ross and Mrs. Cletis Lakey. An open house was
held on June 6, 1982.
In July the library started a story hour for the children which
they still continue. And, in August the Board adopted the policy
that the library would be a General Reading Library for adults
and children. |
| 1987 |
In November
the library was moved to the new Town Hall. |
| 1988 |
In November
the library received a copier and fax machine from the
Oklahoma Department of Libraries. |
| 1992 |
In March
the Carmen Library Board and Progressive Study Club bought a
TV and VCR for the library. In September Gary Phillips from
ODL helped with cataloging the books according to the Dewey
Decimal System. |
| 1993 |
A computer
was purchased for the library through ODL. Peggy Schuler
and Carmen Cain volunteered to catalog the books. |
| 1994 |
A grant
for $4,000 was received in September for children’s books. |
| 1996 |
Due to
illness Ruth Johnson retired from the library in the fall and
Carmen
Cain was hired to be the librarian in November. |
| 1997 |
In the
spring the library went on the internet. |
| 1998 |
Another
computer and upgrades to technology and telecommunications
were completed. |
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