History of
KPL
Archives:
Groundbreaking
11/8/2001
Dedication Program 12/14/2002
New Library Dedication
Deb Harper's Reception
The Kountze Woman's Club was organized on February
3, 1961. The first president was Mrs. R. S. Coe. and the treasurer was Frances
Carter. By September of that same year, the Kountze City Library was formed.
The City of Kountze gave the ladies permission to use one room in the City Hall
building as a library. The club members took turns manning the library. Among
some of the charter members were Charlene Branscum, Eugenia Gauntt, Jo Ellen
Spivey, Ruth Hargrove, Willa D. Coe, Mary Frances Richardson, Faye Birdwell and
Mary Christian.
The Kountze Woman's Club operated the library solely for over twenty five years,
paying the staff, buying the books, adding to the building, paying utilities and
upkeep. They began the Little Miss Kountze Pageant and Shopper's Bazaar as
fundraisers to pay the library's way.
After City Hall moved to its present site in the 1970s, the library had more
room to grow. Past head librarians were Miley Cariker, Alice Kelley, Linda
Murphy, Glenda Dugat, and Connie House Richardson.
In the late 1980s, the City of Kountze agreed to make the library a department
of the city. The Kountze Woman's Club, however, still provides the funding for
the library materials and its members serve on the Kountze Public Library
Advisory Board.
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