In 1911, Alva built a new City Hall. One room on the third floor was offered to the City Federation of Women’s Clubs which opted to use their room for the new library. The Congregationalists donated about 400 books to the library. The club members took turns “babysitting” the library. Shelley Martin, who would later become the librarian in the new building, thought the library was the most wonderful thing in the world. “Thee were free books,” she said. “You could read all you wanted to read.”
Leaving the third-floor library was memorable as well. “It had a wide banister,” Martin said. “We’d put our books under one arm and slide all the way down the banister.” “It was fine until someone was coming up,” she said.
When America entered World War I, the library room was closed to make room for the Red Cross. It reopened after the war to the joy of many people. Around 1923, the Alva City Council included $500 in their annual budget for the upkeep of the library. This amount included the salary for a librarian. A library board was formed consisting of three city council members, two members of the Federation of Women’s Clubs and the librarian. Through their dedicated efforts, the library enjoyed a steady growth.
ANOTHER MOVE
When the Alva General Hospital was built by the city, the old hospital located near where Devery Implement now stands, was turned into a civic center. The library was moved to the first floor with city offices on the second floor. Finances didn’t allow the purchase of new furniture. Mrs. E.A. Haines furnished the library with the finest Remington Rand furniture money could buy. She presented the gift in memory of her late husband, E.A. Haines, a prominent Alva businessman. That furniture still sits in the mezzanine of the current building.
The new Civic Center/Library officially opened June 23, 1942. Members of the Civic Center Committee were W.L. Woodward, W.W. Starr, E. Milford Rice, Merritt Mason, Mrs. John B. Doolin and Mrs. B.F. Harrover. Board members at that time were Mrs. D. W. Pierce, Mrs. J.V.L. Morris, Mrs. Pat Treece, Mrs. Leonard Schaefer, Mrs. I.F. Stephenson and Miss Gladys Julian. Librarians were Mrs. M.E. Wood and Mrs. D.M. Rackey.
For the next 21 years, everything about the library improved except the building. Salaries increased, more money was appropriated for books, but little went to improve the structure. “It got so old and leaky that when there was rain, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Walters would run around with their buckets and catch the leaks,” Martin remembered. Soon everyone moved out except the library.
NEW LIBRARY CONSTRUCTED
After the death of Charles Morton Share and the establishment of the Share Trust created by his will, the new library on the corner of Barnes and Seventh Street was constructed. It was the first of many local improvements funded by the trust. The new library was erected at a cost of $320,000. The dedication ceremony on December 9, 1963 officially presented the deed to the City of Alva.
The new building contained 6600 square feet each on the main floor and in the basement, with another 2750 feet in the balcony. The basement contained a ‘fully equipped’ auditorium with a 200 person seating capacity. New furniture was purchased through $10,000 contributed by local citizens and matched by Share Trust. Another $646 was contributed during the open house for new books. Book circulation doubled in January 1964 over the same month the previous year. Eighty new library cards were issued in January 1964.
Members of the Charles Morton Share Trust who approved the library project were Gertrude Myers, William Stites, James C. Holder, Charles E. Johnson and W.D. Boggs. Library Board members were Mrs. J.V.L. Morris, Mrs. Norman Ryerson, Miss Gladys Julian, Mrs. Leonard Schaefer, Brette Tanner and Richard Downer. Mrs. A.E. Hale served as librarian assisted by Mrs. Alice Miller and Mrs. Fred Cox, Jr.
While touring the library during the dedication ceremony, Martin recalls Library Board Chairman Mrs. Morris saying, “We’ve reached the Promised Land.” Mrs. Morris wanted a story room for children, which was included in the new plan. For years the Share Conference Room was reserved strictly for Share Trust meetings. “That was the inner sanctum,” Martin said. “Nobody went in there but the Share Trust when they had their meetings.”
During the dedication, as Martin toured the building, she said to Jean Cox, “If you ever need any help call me.” In September of 1964 Brette Tanner, whom Martin had known since childhood, knocked on her door and asked if she would like to be the assistant librarian. He instructed her to go to the library the next day to meet with the librarian. Mrs. Miller had resigned suddenly and they needed a replacement. Martin was hired, beginning a 27-year career as librarian there, at the university and the high school. “It was a very enjoyable occupation,” Martin said. “This was especially fun because people of all ages like to read.”
CONTINUED GROWTH
Thirty-eight years ago Larry Thorne became head librarian. When he arrived the Cherokee Strip Museum occupied the north end of the basement. The south end of the main floor served as a small children’s library. Most of the books could be held in the south end of the building. Magazines were kept on the balcony. Since then the library has expanded with a large youth library section in the basement. In 2005 approximately 1,706 children held library cards. Each summer a special reading program for youth is held. Youth Librarian Brook Jones visits the Head Start program, pre-school programs and hosts visits from elementary school classes. During these visits Jones often reads stories to the children.
In 2005 approximately 5,204 adults hold library cards. There is an annual check-out rate of more than 45,000 books and periodicals. Computers have been added providing internet access to patrons as well as a way to type documents and resumes. Special equipment assists handicapped readers. In 1998 the Friends of the Alva Public Library organized. Annual fundraising events such as book sales and the Chocolate Fantasy help provide money for new books and equipment. The Friends also sponsor the book talk series “Let’s Talk About it Oklahoma.”
A special genealogy section received many visits from people across the country researching their ancestry. The Cherokee Outlet Chapter DAR sponsors the special section. The library’s website can be accessed through the Alva web page at www.alvaok.org. Current staff members include Larry Thorne, director; Sandra Hamilton, assistant director; Brook Jones, youth librarian; Lacey Freeman, secretary-computer technician; and Wendy Jungman, library aide.
Library board members include: Mayor Arden Chaffe, Mrs. Irene Ewing, Mrs. Audrey Presnall, Phyllis Hein and Jack Moore.
Helen Barrett
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