A WEE HISTORY OF THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY with Jay Moore, a Local Historian
1899: The Abilene City Federation opened the first lending library after two prior attempts to accomplish this goal had failed.
1906: The first permanent library building opened in Abilene located at Cedar and North 2nd.
1907: Andrew Carnegie awarded a $17,500 grant for a building and a collection of 2,000 books. The new two-story, red-brick library opened two years later. Through the philanthropy of Carnegie, many libraries, known as Carnegie Libraries, would begin to sprout up throughout the United States, 32 of which were in Texas.
1947: The first telephone was installed inside the library; however, this line wasn't used for reference calls or inquiries from the public regarding the loaning of books and library services.
1953: As the city was segregated in services, the Eugenia Pickard Library opened in the new Woodson High School, which was the city's segregated campus serving the communities African-American population.
1956: The city government gained the responsibility for managing the library. The library federation would give the library its first collection of audiovisual equipment and materials.
1957: Voters would approve a $700,000 bond to build a 42,000 square-foot library downtown. That new library would open in Abilene 1960.
1960: Abilene would receive its bookmobile from the Texas State Library.
1967: The Sears Branch opened in North Abilene, located in the city's Arthur Sears Park, which is now named the Cesar Chavez Recreation Center.
1970: Some collections moved into the basement of the library. The area, which was originally designed for storage and work space, was renovated for $20,000.
1971: Due to budget cuts, the branch location at Sears Park closed.
1975: Computers are introduced to the library and the library materials have been cataloged and classified using them.
1976: Abilene became one of the first Texas libraries to buy and circulate 16-mm films.
1980: The telex is retired at the library and interlibrary loans were conducted via a computer network, expanding its contacts from 10 libraries to millions.
1981: Videos were added to the collection.
1983: The city proposed spending $3.1 million to build a southwest branch, to improve the main library, and purchase land for a future northeast branch. Voters rejected the projects in a $50 million bond election.
1987: The library's Bookmobile was no longer operational and was parked at Buffalo Gap Road, where it continue to operate for guests within the neighborhood.
1988: The Genealogy collection was added to the library.
1990: City staff updated at 1983 needs assessment. Four local businessmen outbid the city in a sealed bid process for property at 534 Cypress - land City Hall had targeted for a new library. Also, the Abilene Library Consortium was founded.
1992: Voters defeated by 70 percent to 30 percent a $7.2 million bond to build at 62,000 square-foot library after questions were raised about the purchase of the site.
1993: Grand jurors were brought forth to investigate Abilene's "librarygate," but issued no indictments.
1995: The city would cease operations of the Pickard Branch, with a mayoral task force advising the City Council to pursue a new main library and branches.
1997: A citizens committee recommends building at $10.5 million, 75,000 square-foot central library at North 6th and Cypress. The City Council agreed and called for a Nov. 4 election. Additionally, the library began to open its doors on Sunday afternoons for the first time.
1998: A storefront pilot branch on South 14 opened in January after the defeat of the election to build a new central library.
2009: A third library branch was opened in the northwest Abilene at North 12 and Mockingbird Ln. The Friends of the Library were also instrumental in this opening with raising funds for the renovation of the location, the opening collection, furniture, and operation of the facility for the first two years after which the City would assume control.
2016: The pilot South Branch location would relocate to existing space in the Mall of Abilene, increasing its size from 5,000 to 20,000 square-feet.
2018: The library system has done away with fines and late fees for overdue books and library materials.
2020: The Abilene Public Library became it's own sole department within the City of Abilene, no longer operating under Community Services.
2023: A groundbreaking was held at what will be known as Abilene Heritage Square, the future site of the central library, as well as other downtown institutions. The project is being overseen by the Abilene Heritage Square foundation, which raised the funds to make this happen, located in the former Abilene High School and Lincoln Middle School buildings.