The Midland County Public Library system provides library services to the county of Midland, Texas, as well as the surrounding counties of Andrews, Crane, Ector, Glasscock, Howard, Martin, Reagan, and Upton.[2] It is currently a 4 branch system consisting of the Downtown Library, the Centennial Library, the Law Library, and a Bookmobile.[3]
| Midland County Public Libraries | |
|---|---|
| Location | 301 W Missouri Avenue Midland, TX 79701 |
| Established | 1903 |
| Branches | 4 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Debbie Garze[1] |
| Website | https://www.co.midland.tx.us/150/Public-Libraries |
History
editIn early 1903, several local women's organizations formed the Midland Library Association.[4] The library was built on the corner of West Wall and Colorado Streets on two lots costing $125.[5] The library building itself cost $1550.[5] It was decided that each member of the Association would serve as librarian for one week each in alphabetical order.[5]
In 1929 the library was owned by the county and was located in the corner of the county courthouse.[6] The library became a project of the Altrusa Club which organized the Friends of the Library, and in 1956 they circulated a petition for a bond election to build a new library building.[6] This was approved and construction at 301 West Missouri Street began in 1957.[5] The 28,000 square foot building was finished in 1958 at a cost of $400,000.[5]
By 1971, the library owned a total of 100,000 books which qualified it as a library of the First Class in the American Library Association.[5] The Midland Centennial Branch Library opened at the Midland Park Mall in 1985.[5] It was moved to the Imperial Shopping Center in 2004.[5][7] By 1990, the library collection had outgrown the building, and the Friends of the Library again circulated a petition asking the county commissioners for an expansion to the Downtown facility.[5] A 20,000 square foot addition was completed in 1993 at a cost of about $2.5 million.[5]
Construction began in 2012 on a new Centennial Library building.[7] On April 11 2013, the Centennial Library reopened as a 33,000-square-foot, one story location with updated technology, including digital touchscreens, an interactive card catalog, virtualized computers, and free Wi-Fi.[8] In 2014, the library system went fine-free.[4] In 2018 the Downtown Library was renovated and reopened in 2019.[9]
In 2023, the Midland County commissioners voted to end their partnership with the American Library Association, but Midland County Public Library remains part of the Texas Library Association.[10]
Awards and recognition
editIn 2014, the Midland Centennial Library won the American Library Association and the International Interior Design Association (ALA/IIDA) Library Interior Design Award for Public Libraries over 30,000 sq. ft.[11] Also in 2014, John Trischitti III, the Director of the Midland Public Library, won Librarian of the Year from the Texas Library Association.[12] In 2015, the library was named Organization of the Year by Midland Reporter-Telegrams.[13] In 2018, Midland County Public Library received the NMC Beacon Award for Excellence in Collaboration with Keep Midland Beautiful.[14]
Services
editMidland County Public Library provides many services in addition to library materials, including exhibits, special collections, test proctoring, room reservations, a notary, and a passport facility.[15] There are also Youth Services, Adult Services, and Ask a Librarian services available.[15] The Downtown Library holds the Petroleum Collection, which began in 1935 and features materials related to petroleum organizations and societies.[9] The Centennial Library holds the Genealogy collection, which began in 1968.[7] In 2023, the Centennial Library opened the Business Resource & Information Center (BRIC) to assist patrons seeking help with careers and employment.[16][17]
References
edit- ^ "Contact Us". Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Get a Library Card". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Locations & Hours". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b "About the Library". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of the Midland Country Public Library". Midland Reporter-Telegram. 22 April 2019.
- ^ a b Phillips, Ada (1956). "Persistence Builds a Library in Midland, Texas". International Altrusan, 1956-10. 34 (2): 15 – via Ball State University Digital Media Repository.
- ^ a b c "Centennial Library". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Rich, Sarah (11 April 2013). "Does Midland County have the Tech-iest Library in Texas?". McClatchy - Tribune Business News: 1. ProQuest 1326746788 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "Downtown Library". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Shaffer, Ben (15 August 2023). "County ends partnership with American Library Association". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "LLAMA announces winners of ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards". American Library Association. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Loud and Strong in San Antonio". Texas Library Journal. 90 (2): 75. Summer 2014. ProQuest 1550829598 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Midland County Public Libraries". MC Legacy Scholars Program. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Keep Midland Beautiful - Awards". Keep Midland Beautiful. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Services". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Midland County Library providing walk-in career services resources for jobseekers in the community". NewsWest9. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Business Center". Midland County Public Libraries. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
External links
edit- Public libraries - Midland County