The first circulating library in
Ocala opened in 1886 and was located in the Ocala News Department. It cost each member one dollar for a two-year membership and borrowing privileges. This establishment was followed by a library in the Hotel Ocala which was established by the Women's Library Association. This enterprising group of women pursued the option of having a Carnegie Library located in Ocala. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Ocala Free Public Library in 1914. This act established the tax levy and community support required by the Carnegie Foundation as prerequisites for a grant. In 1916 the
Ocala Carnegie Library was constructed on the site secured for this purpose in 1914. Though the library was not fully furnished, it was decided to be opened on September 11 in order to avoid a further delay. The posted hours when the Carnegie Library first opened was weekdays from 8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 8 pm, but in subsequent issues of the
Ocala Evening Star, the Ocala Carnegie Library's librarian, Louise Gamsby, made notice that the library's hours had changed to weekdays 9 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 8 pm. The original Carnegie Library building was demolished in 1968 to make way for the new Ocala Public Library constructed on the same site. The new Ocala Public Library was considered by some to be "unusual in many respects … a real asset to the community … a thing of beauty." An article in the Ocala
Star-Banner from 1967 described the new Ocala Public Library as "hexagonal in shape, not unlike that of a circus tent." The hexagonal shape was chosen in order to for the library to have as much usable space while also not surpassing the budget. The plan was for all library services to take place on the first floor while the bookmobile and a workroom would have room in the building's basement. Due to the extraordinary growth in Marion County from 1970 through 2000, the Ocala Public Library was once again in need of additional space. The six-sided Ocala Public Library closed its doors at 6 pm on June 19, 2004. The current Headquarters – Ocala Public Library was opened in August 2004 in a refurbished department store. The front of the building displays original mosaic artwork depicting subject areas of the Dewey Decimal System. which was constructed on land that was a gift to the Marion County Public Library System from the Goolsby family in honor of their parents. Today the old Belleview Library building is home to the Friends of the Belleview Public Library and their used book store. The Friends of the Belleview Library run, in conjuncture, The Belleview Historical Library Museum in the used book store and have preserved library related artifacts dating from 1836 to present.
Dunnellon Public Library In the 1950s the Dunnellon Women's Club provided the first lending library in Dunnellon. It consisted of a few shelves of books and volunteers from the Dunnellon Women's Club maintained the small collection. In 1961 a library was built in Dunnellon on land donated by the City of Dunnellon. This library location served Dunnellon until 2008 when the current building was completed and the new Dunnellon Public Library opened. The new Forest Public Library is a
LEED certified building, the first Gold certified LEED building in Marion County. In June 1996, the Fort McCoy Public Library opened its doors. The Fort McCoy Public Library's building also includes a pre-existing auditorium space with a beautiful stage, original hardwood floors, and an open seating area. This historic building has undergone significant renovations to more appropriately house the library and serve the community.
Freedom Public Library The Freedom Public Library opened in 2000. This library building provides library services to community members residing in the southwest corridor of Marion County. The Freedom Public Library's name was the result of a process where community members offered possible names for the library location and the County Commissioners chose the name from those suggestions
Marion Oaks Public Library The Marion Oaks Public Library began as a result of community members coming together to provide public library service to the community. Volunteers of the Friends of the Library raised the funds, secured the current location in the Marion Oaks Community Center, and staffed the Marion Oaks location with the express desire that it become part of the library system. In 1996 their hopes were realized when the Marion Oaks Public Library became part of the Central Florida Regional Library System and subsequently part of the Marion County Public Library System. Operations originally funded by the Town of Reddick were gradually assumed in the library system's budget.
Sankofa Public Library Sankofa Public Library is located in the Mary Sue Rich Community Center in
Ocala, Florida. Sankofa Public Library opened its doors to patrons on January 10, 2023. This community center is named after Mary Sue Rich, former City of Ocala Councilwoman. Along with the Sankofa Public Library, the Mary Sue Rich Community Center has two basketball courts, gym equipment, and event space. https://library.marionfl.org/ == References ==