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LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library

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The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library is a system of public libraries in Leon County, Florida.

Leroy Collins Leon County Library

History

In 1954, the American Association of University Women established a Friends of the Library group for Leon County to generate public support for a library in Tallahassee, Florida.[1] The Leon County Public Library was established in May 1955 and the first library opened on March 21, 1956. The library had approximately 5,000 volumes.

The library moved to larger building in 1962. This building was 12,000 square feet as opposed to the original library’s size of 5,000 square feet.

The Leon County Public Library became the Leon, Jefferson, and Wakulla County Public Library System after Jefferson County joined in 1970 and Wakulla County joined in 1971. The original name returned when Wakulla County left the library system in 1975 and Jefferson County left in 1980.

A small branch library opened in September 1975 and the main library moved again in May 1978 to a larger building of 44,000 square feet. The idea to create a new building for the main library began in 1986. The proposed building would be 88,000 square feet and cost $8.5 million to build. The ground breaking was held on March 4, 1989 for the main library facility. The site was next door to The Columns which is the library's original home. The new library building officially opened in January 1991.

Sandra Wilson, who was to oversee the development of the library’s new home, was the library director from 1988 until 1991. Helen Moeller took over for her in 1992.

The Leon County Public Library was renamed the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library on September 17, 1993 in honor of LeRoy Collins, the 33rd Governor of Florida.[2]

February 2016 marked the LeRoy Collins Main Library 25th year anniversary. Since 1991, over 14 million patrons have visited the LeRoy Collins Main Library and checked out over 23 million materials, which includes not only books, but magazines, movies and more.[1]

Mission

The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library System enriches the community by inspiring a love of reading, providing a dynamic resource for intellectual, creative and recreational pursuits, and enabling residents to live a life of learning.

Vision

Our community discovers the joy of reading, the energy of ideas and the power of information together in the Library.[2]

Locations

The library system has seven locations in Tallahassee, Florida.

  • Collins Main Library
  • Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library
  • Eastside Branch Library
  • Fort Braden Branch Library
  • Lake Jackson Branch Library
  • Northeast Branch Library
  • Woodville Branch Library

References

  1. ^ "Library History". Leon County. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Governor Thomas LeRoy Collins". Leon County. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
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