Gadsden Public Library

Holiday Closings 08
January	1
January	19 - 21
March	21 - 23
May	24 - 26
July	4 - 6
August	30 - Sep 1
November	11
November	27 - 30
December	24 - 25
January	1, 2009

Hours
Sunday	Closed
Monday	9 - 8
Tuesday	9 - 8
Wednesday	9 - 5
Thursday	9 - 8
Friday	9 - 5
Saturday	9 - 5

Mission Statement

Gadsden Public Library will provide all citizens of Gadsden and Etowah County with resources and services to help meet their informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs. As the primary self-directed learning resource for its customers, the library offers extensive literary collections, current and reliable reference collections, and exciting children's programs that encourage citizens to develop an interest in reading and lifelong learning.

Hours & Locations

Main

254 College Street
Gadsden, Al 35901
9am - 8pm -- Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
9am - 5pm -- Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
Phone: 256-549-4699

Hoyt Warsham Alabama City Branch

2700 West Meighan Boulevard
Gadsden, Alabama 35904
Monday - Friday -- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Phone: 256-549-4688

East Gadsden Branch

919 Wilson Avenue
Gadsden, Alabama 35903
Monday – Friday -- 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Phone: 549-4691

Library History

In 1897, eight young women formed a club to socialize and play cards. Soon, due to parental persuasion, weekly meetings became devoted to improving minds instead of playing cards. This intellectual gathering evolved into the Thursday Study Club, which still exists today. One of their early goals was to establish a reading room, or library, for Gadsden. By holding fundraisers such as oyster suppers, ice cream socials, doll shows, and steam boat excursions on the Coosa ($1.25 per person), club members raised $256 for books and opened a public reading room in 1900.

In 1905, the Carnegie Foundation awarded a grant of $9200 to the City of Gadsden to build a library. When the new building on Forrest Avenue opened in 1906, 456 volumes from the reading room formed the nucleus of the library's collection. Lena Martin, a charter member of the Thursday Study Club, was the first librarian and served for over 40 years. In 1907, registered borrowers totaled 832 and 10,500 books were checked out. Steve Means was the last person to check out a book from the Forrest Avenue location before it closed in 1964. Means would later become mayor of Gadsden and be instrumental in procuring funds for the renovation of the College Street library in 2004.

Bobby Junkins, who would become an innovative and decisive voice in library history, was a library page in 1964 and helped move books from Forrest Avenue to the new building – in shopping carts! The new library on College Street, two blocks down from the Forrest Avenue location, opened on June 29, 1964. It had 39,000 square feet to house 200,000 volumes and was considered immense for its time.

Under the direction of Bobby Junkins, the 1980s were a period of tremendous growth for Gadsden Public Library. In 1984, a wing to house the genealogy department was added and named in honor of Congressman Albert Rains. Also in 1984, the library staff began converting to an electronic, on-line system. As a founding member of a north Alabama library consortia, Gadsden Public Library was one of the first libraries in the state to offer computerized access. The children's division was expanded in 1987 to double its existing space.

Rebecca Buckner Mitchell became director after Junkins was elected Probate Judge of Etowah County. She served as director from 1988-2001 as services changed rapidly to meet the technological needs of the staff and community. Internet access and online access to the catalog were provided for the public. The old card catalog was removed in 1999. While some people missed the old standby, many younger, more computer-oriented patrons never learned to use it. Service and growth at the main library were limited by inadequate wiring and mechanical systems in the building. In January 2002 Ms. Mitchell took the director's position at Alabama Public Library Service in Montgomery.

Lee Howington was appointed director in June, 2002. He had a strong background in library construction, having overseen five library construction projects, including the building of two new facilities as well as renovations and expansions. In 2004, Mayor Steve Means and the Gadsden City Council appropriated $2.5 million for renovating the library’s downtown location in order to maintain a dynamic, vital role in the 21st century. Howington directed the monumental tasks of relocation and planning a design maximizing use of existing space to reflect library trends. During construction, main library services were moved to Elliott Community Center. On July 11, 2006, hundreds attended a combined centennial celebration and opening dedication of the beautifully renovated library.

On September 28, 2006, Mayor Steve Means named Amanda Buckner Jackson library director. Jackson literally grew up in the library while her mother, Rebecca Buckner Mitchell, was director. As director, Jackson plans to build on patrons’ enthusiastic response to newly renovated library facilities. Her focus will be on programs for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The main library and two branches provide more than seven thousand service hours to the community each year.

In 2006, Gadsden Public Library celebrated 100 years of providing educational, cultural, informational, and recreational enrichment to all citizens. With a dedicated staff and supportive city government, the library will continue its tradition of encouraging lifelong learning. The next 100 years will see many changes. What will never change is that the library will always be an important part of our city and the joy of reading will be central to its mission. Gadsden Public Library stands as a monument to the initiative, creativity, and vision of the citizens of Gadsden whose dreams of a library often seemed to exceed their grasp, but whose hard work, verve and perseverance saw a reading room grow from a small loft above a downtown store to a 40,000 square foot state of the art building. Today it continues to grow toward tomorrow with the original vision of service always foremost in the eyes of those who lead.