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Hours The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library is located at 350 North Wood Avenue in beautiful downtown Florence, Alabama. The two-story building was built in 2002 in response to the community’s desire for a facility that served the literary, cultural, and recreational needs of the community. Today, FLPL is the destination for anyone looking for a place to learn, have fun, or relax. When visiting the library, you’ll see patrons checking out the latest bestsellers or dvds for their families. You’ll see Mrs. Jessica leading toddlers in storytime, and adults enjoying classes and special events. You’ll also see people using the public computers to search for jobs, and researchers discovering long-hidden details about their ancestors in the Local History & Genealogy Room. Origin Following the closing of the Synodical College in 1893, The Ladies’ Library became The Southern Library and was temporarily relocated to the basement of Florence City Hall on Short Court Street. It was next housed in the basement of the old Lauderdale County Courthouse, located in what was known as Court Square, bordered by Court, South Court, Tennessee, and College Streets. Bibb-Graves Hall on the campus of Florence State Teachers College, now the University of North Alabama, became the library’s fourth home. In return for housing the library, the college’s faculty and students were allowed free use of the collection. Moving Forward In February 11, 1946, the subscription library became a free public library. Miss Evelyn Peeler was employed by the city-appointed board to serve as the library’s first administrator. While awaiting the completion of its new building, the library was moved once again into temporary quarters at the Hotel Reeder. On January 9, 1949, the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library opened its doors at 218 North Wood Avenue, an address that was to be its home for the next 53 years. Today’s FLPL FLPL in the News The King James Version Hungry? Read a book Get dirty Thanksgiving, for beginners Library receives advance on budget allocation No wage increases for employees Library asks for $250,000 for next fiscal year Library goes high-tech by circulating e-readers Historical documents now available on library’s website Internet, tight budgets hurt library book buying Historical documents on display at library Links Old FLPL Brochure [PDF, 1.9 MB]: We found this brochure in one of our books, from back when the library was at 218 North Wood Avenue and you could “call the library [catalog] computer” from home using “a personal computer with a modem and telecommunications software” (probably the late ’80s). 
The Floor Medallion: A History: A description by Heritage Preservation, Inc. of the medallion on the floor of the library entryway. |
About FLPL
