Although the 1912 Charter of the City of Ada stipulated that a public library be established, it was not until January 5th, 1936, that a small library was established on the second floor of City Hall. It was stocked with donations from area residents.
A year later, the City Council agreed to call a bond issue election to build a new library. The Library was erected at 400 S. Rennie and was dedicated April 24, 1939. It was a Georgian Colonial style building shaped like a Y with the circulation desk placed in a central rotunda giving visual access to each area of the library. It was designed by local architect, Albert Ross, and in 1978 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
By 1980, the library was outgrowing the space and the building was suffering structural problems because of the weight of its holdings. The Ada League of Women Voters encouraged the City Council to authorize a bond election to purchase the vacant Montgomery Wards store at 12th and Rennie. Voters approved the issue after being given assurance that the original building would be preserved as the Ada Arts and Heritage Center.
Under the direction of librarian Carolyn Davis the holdings were moved into the remodeled facility which was dedicated March 8, 1981. The present site has had two additional renovations adding upstairs meeting rooms, space for the Pontotoc County Literacy Coalition, and recently, the completion of the McKeel Center including conference and research rooms given in memory of Judge John Boyce McKeel by the Ayleene R. McKeel Trust managed by Vision Bank.
The 24,000 square foot library has holdings of over 55,000 books, 200+ periodical subscriptions, 3000 videos and DVDs, 2000+ books on tape, and 15 public access Internet computers.
[Janet Lee, Children's Librarian]
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