History The Fort Meade Public Library was founded in 1934 by the Fort Meade's Woman Club. Although there was not enough space to house a library at the Woman's Clubhouse, Mr. Ben Johnson, a real estate broker offered a vacant room at 212 West Broadway free of charge for the library. Club members solicited others in the community to donate books and magazines and club members donated their own materials. The library was run by club member volunteers and was open only a few days out of the week. After several years, the library outgrew its space and moved to a room on the second floor of city hall. Mrs. T.K. White managed the library and kept it open 15 hours a week but after a few years, the library once again needed to move. The Woman's Club received permission 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.
History The Fort Meade Public Library was founded in 1934 by the Fort Meade's Woman Club Although there was not enough space to house a library at the Woman's Clubhouse Mr Ben Johnson a real estate broker offered a vacant room at 212 West Broadway free of charge for the library Club members solicited others in the community to donate books and magazines and club members donated their own materials The library was run by club member volunteers and was open only a few days out of the week After several years the library outgrew its space and moved to a room on the second floor of city hall Mrs TK White managed the library and kept it open 15 hours a week but after a few years the library once again needed to move The Woman's Club received permission 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 4000 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