In the fall of 1964, the “Have Book-Will Travel” parade was held. Towns- people met at the school and marched, books in hand, to the new library. At the end of the march, the John F. Raper Memorial Library was dedicated. For several years the only books in the library were donations and the workers were all volunteers.
In 1971, Ashley Hibbard, a librarian and VISTA worker, came to Coweta. She set up the library and trained volunteers. She stayed for about a year. Mrs. Clara Hunter became the first salaried librarian in 1972, but the library was only open for a few hours a week. The City of Coweta paid the utilities and the librarian’s salary, but the library had no book money allotted. The Library Association was formed and did fund raisers to obtain money for books.
Ms. Alpha Clements became the first full-time librarian in 1972. Ms. Clements took a correspondence course in library work and obtained an assoicate’s degree. Still the library limped along using donated books and whatever books the Library Association could afford, also by this time the library was getting State Aid through the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The city still only paid salaries and utilities.
In 1985-1986, a new library building was funded through a LSCA grant and local dollars. The new library opened in 1987 and was renamed the Coweta Public Library. The old building reverted back to John F. Raper’s heirs since the terms of the donation was that it be used as a library. The heirs sold the building and donated half of the money to the library.
Shortly after the opening of the new library, Librarian Alpha Clements retired for health reasons. Two part time workers (Pat Nance and Ann Downs) kept the library open until the hiring of a certified librarian was hired. This librarian only stayed two years and in January 1990 Barbara White became the new Library Director of Coweta Public Library. Mrs. White had worked as a librarian for 16 years when she came to Coweta.
After her arrival things began to happen at the library. All books and materials in the library were re-cataloged and new card catalog was established. By 1991the library was automated. New library cards were issued, books were checked out by computer, and the on-line catalog became accessible to the public.
Another important thing happened after the coming of Mrs. White, she managed to get the city to budget for books. The library had its first budgeted book money!
In 1995 the citizens of Coweta passed a bond issue to expand the library. The new and improved Coweta Public Library re-opened in August 1996, after being closed for six weeks. The library now had more than twice the space as before. At this time the library had only the library director, Barbara White, the assistant librarian, Ann Downs, and a high-school part-timer. All the other part time staff resigned during the building of the new addition. Other part time staff were hired, Wendy Devine and Janet Wybrant.
In 1996 the library acquired on-line services through the internet. At first it was a dial-up connection. In 1997 the library obtained a T-1 line through WA-RO-MA. In 1999 the library was granted four Gateway computers through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation GLI grant.
When the Oklahoma Department of Libraries started their certification program, Coweta Public Library jumped on board. Barbara White and Ann Downs were the first to be certified and later Wendy Devine was certified.
In 2003 Hispanic bilingual materials were introduced into the system with help from a grant.
In August 2000, Ann Downs retired from full-time employment, but still works part time. In April of 2003, Library Director Barbara White retired. Wendy Devine became the interim library director. She is now the library director with Susan Greene as the assistant. They are currently the only full-time staff with five part time staff and one custodian. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 shows the Coweta Public Library serves a total population of 7,139 within City Limits.
Top
