Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library is located at 350 North Wood Avenue in beautiful downtown Florence, Alabama. The two-story building was built in 2002 in response to the community's desire for a facility that served the literary, cultural, and recreational needs of the community.

Today, FLPL is the destination for anyone looking for a place to learn, have fun, or relax. When visiting the library, you'll see patrons checking out the latest bestsellers or dvds for their families. You'll see Mrs. Jessica leading toddlers in storytime, and adults enjoying classes and special events. You'll also see people using the public computers to search for jobs, and researchers discovering long-hidden details about their ancestors in the Local History & Genealogy Room.

Origin

In 1885, a group of Florence women formed a subscription library. Originally called The Ladies' Library, the collection was first housed in the Florence Synodical College, a Presbyterian school located at the site of the Federal Post Office on Seminary Street. It was supported by membership dues of one dollar for one year, a rather large sum for that time. Additional books were purchased with funds generated by a variety of community events, including concerts, plays, and performances by "facial impersonators."

Moving Forward

In 1945, Louis Rosenbaum, the proprietor of a local chain of movie theaters, donated $25,000 to acquire or build a permanent home for the library. This marked the beginning of a very successful fundraising campaign.

In February 11, 1946, the subscription library became a free public library. Miss Evelyn Peeler was employed by the city-appointed board to serve as the library's first administrator. While awaiting the completion of its new building, the library was moved once again into temporary quarters at the Hotel Reeder. On January 9, 1949, the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library opened its doors at 218 North Wood Avenue, an address that was to be its home for the next 53 years.

Today's FLPL

In the fall of 2002, FLPL moved to its current location. Since then, the library has had over 1.7 million visitors and has hosted special guests that include Donald Trump, illustrator Richard Cowdrey, and author and columnist Rheta Grimsley Johnson. Home to a collection of nearly 100,000 books, audiobooks, music CDs, and movies, FLPL continues to be a vital asset to the community.

Explore Related Categories