Fort Worth Public Library is the public library system that serves the city of
Fort Worth,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
. The Fort Worth Public Libraries consist of 16 branches including the central library and two regional libraries.
History
![Carnegie Public Library (10011962)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Carnegie_Public_Library_%2810011962%29.jpg)
In April 1892, 20 women formed the idea for the city's first library while meeting at the home of
Jennie Scott Scheuber. Under the Fort Worth Public Library Association, this association received its state charter and with the financial support from
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...
they brought the Fort Worth Public Library into existence. Carnegie donated building funds for the construction of more than 2,000 libraries in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
and from 1886 to 1919 he donated $56 million. Carnegie suggested to the founding women that they ask the local gentlemen for "the price of a good cigar" to help raise the necessary local supporting funds. Sarah Gray Jennings donated the land at 915 Throckmorton Street on stipulation that it always be used for a library.
When the City Council approved spending $4,000 per year to run the library, Carnegie contributed $50,000 for the building. The Carnegie Public Library of Fort Worth opened on October 17, 1901, at Ninth and Throckmorton streets.
The PWA Library
As early as 1926 it was becoming clear that the Carnegie funded building was no longer large enough to handle Fort Worth’s swelling population. The situation became worse during the onset of the
Great Depression, when reading rooms became so full that the facility lacked enough chairs or lights at most hours of the day and night. The library board appealed to the
Public Works Administration (
PWA) in 1933 for funds with $400,000 in subsidies finally arrived in Fort Worth in 1937. A three story, triangular
PWA Moderne structure designed by
Joseph R. Pelich was built over the spot of the old neoclassical Carnegie library and opened in 1938. Mrs. Scheuber was retired from her role as head librarian and replaced with the professionally trained Harry Peterson, who converted the collection to the
Dewey Decimal System and removed the library’s collection of relics to the local children’s museum. In 1967 the building received a Texas Historical Marker in 1967.
In 1978 a new central library building was built at 300 Taylor Street. The old Art Deco building was returned to the ownership of the Sarah Gray Jennings estate in 1980, and although attempts were made to preserve the building as a performing arts center, the old library was razed in 1990 for a parking lot.
Central Library Expansion
Fort Worth's Central Library expansion officially opened October 22, 1999. On March 28, 2000 the
Fort Worth Tornado caused over a million dollars in damage to the new Central Library.
Central Library has a spacious Learning Commons for patrons to enjoy a book, magazine, or use a computer. The Central Library also offers its users free Internet access at the computer lab or with WiFi. Computer classes are available to promote
information literacy. The Genealogy, Local History and Archives unit is housed within the Central Library; the Archives are also the official municipal archives of the City of Fort Worth.
Regional Libraries
* East Regional – opened ()
* Southwest Regional – opened ()
Branches
* Diamond Hill/Jarvis – opened ()
* East Berry – opened ()
* Meadowbrook – opened ()
* Northside – opened ()
* Ridglea – opened ()
* Riverside – opened ()
* Seminary South – opened ()
* Ella Mae Shamblee – opened ()
* Summerglen – opened ()
* Wedgwood – opened ()
* Northwest – opened ()
* Golden Triangle – opened ()
* Reby Cary Youth – opened ()
* La Gran Biblioteca - opened ()
Partner library systems
References
External links
Fort Worth Public Library
{{Authority control
Culture of Fort Worth, Texas
Library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
Education in Tarrant County, Texas
Public libraries in Texas
Library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
David M. Schwarz buildings
Libraries participating in TexShare