HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-09-27 From Ladies' Locker Room to Library (Palm Beach Post)IME*.Y - DEVELOPMENT
POST-Try:TT Seutember 27,19o,
Proeradies' Locker Ro-ribm
By SHEILA TRYK
Post Staff Writer
In NOVeMber 1962, it was only the glimmer of an
idea in the minds of some north county women.
"North Palm Beach ought to have a library,- said
the members of the North County Branch of the Ameri-
can Association of t Tniversity Women AAL1W . And the
appointed a committee.
Sometimes committees DO get something. done.
The results will be obvious next Saturday at 10 a.m.
when the new North Palm Beach Library. situated
behind the Village Hall on Route 1. opens its doors.
Remember Ernest Chappell. one of the golden
voices of radio'.' Re's going to be master of ceremonies
at the dedication, which will feature Rep. Paul Rogers.
and James L.Harrison. Public Printer of the United
States, as guest speaker.
But while the flags of the Marine Color Guard wave
and the trumpets of the Palm Beach Gardens High
School band blare, some AAUW members will remem-
ber how it was when the library first opened its doors in
what had been the women's locker room of the old
country club in North Palm Beach.
"Our workroom was a borrowed room in the fire-
house,- says Mrs John Turnbull, current president of
the Library Society. "We were the original glue -sniff-
ers. We had books hanging up on clothesiines. all over
the roomand it got pretty strong in there.
By the end of 1963the little library had 2,800 books,
and the AALW committee had expanded and changed
into The Library Society of North Palm Beach:.
under its first president. Mrs. Ralph Huts.
The librar:s, was staffed by Society volunteers until.
in 1964. the Village Council voted to hire a librarian.
InAugust1964, the growing library moved into what
Manlem By Mikis. Trric
MRS AXEL KOGSTRON.1 THROUGH A SHELF
had been
The cir
The libi
After a
apparent Lb.
Library So
000 bond i5
The Village
for air cond
Funds
$1000 corm.'
Bank of Na
purchase bo
Ground
1963.
The skill
entire Libra
unfinished f
"It's de
25 years.' s
There's
new child-,1
collection -
collection
tion.
And nos
The ph
arid shelve
room, an a
and tapes.
Fr the_
ramp and a
And t
view.
oom to Library
glimmer of an
men.
a library," said
ch of the Ameri-
AAUW) And the
ething done
turday at 10 a.m.
Library. situated
its doors.
of the golden
r of ceremonies
ep. Paul Rogers.
of the United
olor Guard wave
h Gardens High
rs will remcm-
ned its doors in
oom of the old
room in the fire-
ent president of
gi nal glue-sniff-
eslines all over
re
had 2,800 books_
ed and changed
Palm Beach,
-
Is.
volunteers until.
a librarian.
moved into what
had been dining room of the old country dub.
The circulation desk was the bar.
The librarian's office was a niche in a hallway.
After a couple years in this location, it became
apparent that the library needed a home of its own. The
Library Society went after it. Residents voted a $100,-
000 bond issue and acquired matching federal funds
The Village Council voted another $65,000 in local funds
for air conditioning and furniture.
Funds for more books were collected, including a
$1000 community donation from the First American
Bank of North Palm Beach which, appropriately. will
purchase books for the financial section.
Ground was broken for the new library on Oct. 24,
1968_
The sunny upper floor of the building will house the
entire librarc for now, The lower floor has been left
unfinished for expansion.
"It's designed to meet the town's needs for the next
25 years:. says Larry Robbins. Village manager.
There's a large children's section. complete with
new child -sized chairs and table.s There's the -Florida
collection- of books about the state, a garden dub
collection. a genealoa collection and a financial sec-
tion.
And now there are 11,000 volumes.
The plant includes gold carpeting, new furniture
and shelves, .air-conffitioning_ office space, a work
room, an automatic book charger a room tor reeords
and tapes.
For those who can t climb ;Lairs. there s an entry
ramp and a a ator accomrtiodate witeeldia irs.
An d those tinted glass eingirms gi a palm-lringed
view
MRS. JOHN S. ATWATER WITH TOM swirls