to use the abandoned Chamber of Commerce building on 75 East Broadway for the public library. After failed efforts to receive state funding for the library Mr. Grady Courtney, city manager called a meeting for the city to take over the responsibility of the library. The vote was unanimous in favor of the public library and on May 1, 1965, Mrs. Codey Shirley took over management of the library, implementing the Dewey Decimal System. The library at this time had 4,000 resources and received a 200 book donation from Bartow Public Library. A new library building was completed in 1976. The Fort Meade Public Library is the first library to become a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. Points of interest Patterson Park Transportation Major highways in Fort Meade: US 17 – North–south highway on the middle of town. North of town it leads to Bartow. Southbound leads to Wauchula. US 98 – Co-signed with US 17 on the north side of town, US 98 turns eastbound at East Broadway Avenue and leads to Frostproof and US 27. References Further reading External links Fort Meade Chamber Of Commerce Cities in Polk County, Florida Populated places established in 1849 1849 establishments in Florida Cities in Florida