business was to adopt the project of founding a library for
Collinsville, Oklahoma. Their
first books were donated from a Methodist Church organization
and were kept in the home of COE founder, Mrs. J.A. Tyner.
The books were moved to several locations in downtown Collinsville
until in 1911 when the books found a permanent home in a room
on the second floor of the new city hall. Members of the COE
club and The Women’s Council operated the library for
the public. The members of the COE club held teas, talent
shows, and benefits to purchase books for the library. They
even had a ‘book shower” which brought in books
from women’s group all over the state.
In 1913 Clyde
Bollman and J.B. Potter went “back east” to
secure funds from the Carnegie Foundation. The City Fathers
went east, but the City Mothers sent them. They were granted
$7500.00 to erect a building on land furnished by Collinsville.
The new building was started in 1915 and at the dedication
on July 20, 1917, the members of the COE Club were given
a glowing tribute for starting and keeping the project alive,
and for the 1500 books they gave to the library.
The new library,
located on a 100 by 140 foot lot on the corner of 13th and
Main, was a one story building with a basement, built of
brick and stone with a tile roof, and made fireproof throughout.
In 1962 a countywide
vote decided that a new city-county library system would
be adopted. The Carnegie Collinsville Library closed on
June 30, 1962, and the Collinsville Branch Library of the
Tulsa City-County Library System opened its doors on July
1, 1962. In 1999 the collection from the library was moved
to a small store front on Main Street, back to one of the
first homes of the CV Library, while the entire building
was renovated and expanded. On April 6, 2000, the Collinsville
Library once again opened its doors to an increase in square
footage from 3, 260 to 7, 860, an expanded collection, a
children’s corner with a bay window, a neon teen center
sign, a stained glass window, 11 computers, videos, CD’s,DVD’s,
and the only elevator in town. The budget for this library
renovation was over $800.000. The renovations maintained
the historical integrity of the original Carnegie Library.
The library still proudly displays the inlaid stone that
designates it as a Carnegie Library.
In a Tulsa World
article dated Sunday, May 26, 1940, The Librarian, Mrs.
Ollie B. Howell, states that the library is the headquarters
for many youngsters every day after school. In 2002 the
same holds true. As soon as school is out, the youngsters
from the middle school walk to the library to read, visit,
use the computers and complete their homework. Parents bring
their youngsters throughout the day. The high school students
rush in to complete reports and homework assignments in
the evening. Each year the library hosts a summer reading
program for the children and teens and a winter reading
program for the adults.
Magicians, American
Indian storytellers, puppets, musicians, “Will Rogers”,
“Woody Guthrie”, and a long list of programs
have entertained children and adults in the meeting room.
The Patchworkers, a library quilting group, was formed in
2001. The Friends of the Collinsville Library host a membership
gala each December with a live band, dinner, and a silent
auction. Summer evenings resound with music during Concerts
on The Library Green.
The citizens
of Collinsville have always loved their library. That care,
concern, and love has held true since 1903 when the COE
first met and made the library a priority until today when
the current COE Club meets once a month to discuss the book
of the month.
As well as being
an integral part of the community, the library’s goal
is to provide the opportunity for many happy memories for
our customers and to continue the tradition started by a
handful of pioneers in 1903.
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