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In 1953, several businessmen and influential citizens
of Rockcastle County considered the possibility of obtaining a bookmobile
to serve the small county schools that had no access to a library.
In June of 1954, this became a reality. A bookmobile was donated
to the county from Parker Seal Plant in Berea, Kentucky and books came
from personal donations. In addition, Mr. John Lair made an appeal
on the radio for more books to furnish the bookmobile and a small library.
Edna Grace McKenzie was hired as the first bookmobile librarian and in
September 1954, the bookmobile went out on the road.
About the same time, a small room was acquired
at city hall to house the library. It was named The Rockcastle County
Bookmobile Library and it was open for a few hours, one day a week.
Later on, the library was moved to a room at the railroad depot.
By 1956, the library had grown and there was a
need for it to be open more than one day a week. Mrs. Alleyne Davis
was employed as librarian; a position she held until she retired in October
of 1990.
In 1957, the first library region in Kentucky
was formed and the Rockcastle County Bookmobile Library became a member
of The Valley of Parks Regional Library. The Regional Library
later joined the state system and the library began receiving books from
them. After a few years, the library's name was changed to "The Rockcastle
County Public Library."
In 1960, the library was again moved to three
small rooms in the basement of the Mt. Vernon Hotel. It remained
there until 1974, when it was relocated to the present facility on Ford
Drive.
In 1970, The Valley of Parks Region was joined
by two other small regions to become The Cumberland Valley Regional Library
with David Wilder as the regional librarian. Rockcastle County Public
Library and ten other counties make up this region. In 2000, Mr.
David Wilder retired as regional Librarian and Mrs. Ruby Henson became
the new Cumberland Valley Regional Librarian in March of 2001.
In March of 1972, Geraldine Robbins was employed
as bookmobile librarian and she remained in this position until 1990.
After Mrs. Davis retired, Mrs. Robbins became the library director and
held this position until her retirement in June of 2000.
In 1990, Pamela Chaliff became the new bookmobile
librarian. The library and the Senior Citizen's Center shared the
same building until the Center was relocated in 1995. A complete
renovation of the building was completed in the spring of 1996 to include
a children's area and new office area.
In July of 2000, Kristiana Burk became the Rockcastle
County Public Library Director until her resignation in August 15, 2001.
The services have continued to grow over the years
and the number of books available for circulation now total more than 30,000.
The newest enhancement to the library is the addition of several computers
that were donated by the business people of Rockcastle county. In
November 1996 The Rockcastle County Public Library went 'online' on the
Internet and added to its collection several computers that were donated
by the business people of Rockcastle County. The latest accomplishment
and enhancement to the Library has been the complete conversion of the
Library's system. The Rockcastle County Public Library is now fully
automated, has a brand new circulation desk, a new Career Center, and 11
computers accessible to the public with Internet access and other software.
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