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By Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS
Since 1885 the Spartanburg Public Library has seen the changing landscape of the area, seen historic people like Charles Lindbergh and Elvis Presley pass through town, seen the Daniel Morgan Statue rack up frequent moving miles and has recorded or stockpiled those memories the entire time.
Then, as now, the library is the place to refer to regarding all that is Spartanburg, plus much, much more.
Yes, the Spartanburg Public Library is about to mark its 125th anniversary in 2010.
Beginnings
The original library was located “roughly where the Extended Stay America building is now in Morgan Square,” said Todd Stephens, the County Librarian.
The library cornerstone was laid in 1884 and the library opened in October 1885 he said.
The first books were donated by Helen Kennedy, the widow of Dr. Kennedy, a “well - loved and respected physician whom Kennedy Street was named for.” She donated Dr. Kennedy’s medical books and personal books as well as the space for the library.
The first library was established as a subscription library where “you pay a couple dollars a year to have a (library) card that would let you check out all the medical books you want” said Stephens.
Later, the 19th century industrialist and noted philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was putting resources into developing public libraries throughout the country and Spartanburg contacted him regarding securing funds.
The Next Generation
of Libraries
Carnegie provided funds for Spartanburg’s library along with a commitment from the town of Spartanburg to build a library, the Kennedy Free Library that was next to the courthouse on Library Street.
The Kennedy Free Library served as Spartanburg’s library until approximately 1961 or 1962, said Stephens.
The Pine Street Library came next and was located near the YMCA. It also had a small annex that housed the Regional Museum. The Pine Street Library was broken into two sections, one for adults and one for children and Stephens noted, “You couldn’t cross the two.”
He also pointed out the Jaycees won a national award for their fundraising efforts for the Pine Street Library.
The day the Pine Street Library opened was a banner day in Spartanburg, or rather a ribbon - cutting day. In addition to the Pine Street Library, the County Courthouse and City Hall opened. Scissors were cutting through ribbons all day long.
The Pine Street Library with its flat roof and white bricks was used as a model for the libraries in Woodruff and Landrum.
The Pine Street Library’s run came to an end when the current library headquarters building in downtown Spartanburg opened in 1997.
Establishing a County-Wide System
In the mid 1970’s Dennis Bruce became the director of the Library and he advocated for a county-wide system. Today nine community libraries are located in Chesnee, Cowpens, Pacolet, Woodruff, Landrum, Inman, Boiling Springs, Lyman, and on the West Side as well as the main library in Spartanburg, bringing the total to 10 libraries within Spartanburg County.
Stephens noted at that time 90% of the population “lived within five miles of a library” and he is interested in doing a new study to see if that still holds true.
Each library was designed to reflect the population it represents and each library was designed to allow for future expansion.
Programs Available
at all Libraries
Some of the programs offered at all libraries include the Summer Reading Program, Terrier Tales, and The Big Read.
Stephens explained the system-wide Summer Reading Program encourages kids to read “because studies are clear that if a student reads throughout the summer, they will not lose ground when they start school in the fall.” The program offers prizes, activities and programs for kids, teens and adults.
The libraries also partner with Wofford College to offer Terrier Tales. Stephens explains, “It is an ‘off summer’ reading program that runs through the fall and winter” that offers a free ticket to a Wofford football game for completing five books. The child’s parent is offered a discount ticket too.
The library also offers The Big Read. Last year the Big Read promoted reading “The Maltese Falcon,” the previous year was “The Great Gatsby” and the next Big Read will promote community-wide reading of “Fahrenheit 451.” The Big Read offers book giveaways so patrons can read at their own pace.
Rise of the Internet
In 1998 the library headquarters building began offering internet access. They later received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to upgrade all the computers.
Today they lease their computers so the libraries’ computers won’t become obsolete. “No matter what computer you’re on, it will never be older than three years old,” Stephens stated.
An interesting aspect to all county libraries is they act as “computer hot spots.” Stephens explained, “Our wireless hot spots go beyond our walls. Our computer systems people designed our hot spots so that you can drive your car up to a library at any time and open up your laptop and sit in your car and access our wireless at any time at any library location.”
He said the hot spots are designed to meet the growing and changing population within Spartanburg County.
Remote use of the library web site is expected to hit 1 million visitors in the next year while onsite usage sees about 440,000 people come into the library to use the internet.
Future Plans
Stephens said plans for the future is to “have the whole idea as library as creator, we create information or take information and recreate it in a way that is accessible” to the public.
As an example he displayed blueprints of Mary H. Wright Elementary School that were able to be scanned and digitized. He also noted they have photos of her, and newspaper articles, her death certificate and more. By integrating all the materials, he said, “it adds dimension” to the drafts of Mary H. Wright.
“This is how libraries can remain relevant because this is local information that nobody else has, that has local purpose and meaning,” he said. “As the library acquires things like this it benefits the community.”
Happening Now
Stephens explained the sour economy has led to an increase in patronage at the library. “Currently we are up almost 7% in the fiscal year.”
While the library users are increasing there is more than enough material housed there to satisfy them. The library collection totals 864,374 different items, including books, CD’s, video’s, books on tape and much more.
The library also maintains a law library at the County Courthouse, runs a Bookmobile and maintains a database of information along with the library web site.
While the internet and its hot spots are vital as is the rest of the collection housed in the library, Stephens points to the library staff as the heart and soul of the library. “I’m real proud of our staff; they work hard and are committed to public service and doing what’s best for the community.”
If you’d like to learn more visit their website at http://www.infodepot.org/
lruss@hometown-news.com
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