Delray Beach Public Library
Type | Public Library |
---|---|
Established | 1913 |
Location | Delray Beach, Florida |
Coordinates | 26°27′41″N 80°04′29″W / 26.46129°N 80.07459°WCoordinates: 26°27′41″N 80°04′29″W / 26.46129°N 80.07459°W |
Other information | |
Director | Interim Director, Mykal Banta |
Website | Official site |
The Delray Beach Public Library is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)3 library located in Delray Beach, FL in Palm Beach County, FL.[1] The library is funded through public and private partnerships and is not a part of government.[1]
History
On April 11, 1913, 40 women from the Ladies Improvement Association of Delray Beach met and each donated one book to start a library in Delray Beach, FL.[2] In 1916, the library was moved to the Booster Hall.[2] Additionally, the Ladies Improvement Association received a ten dollar gift from Henry Flagler to support the library.[2] In 1939, the Delray Beach Public Library officially became a not-for-profit corporation, a 501(c)3 library.[3]
In 1940, the Delray Beach Public Library Association cultivated a public private partnership between the City of Delray Beach and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).[3] In 1950, after community fund-raising the library was moved to SE 4th Avenue with 15,000 books in circulation.[3] In 2006, the Delray Beach Public Library was moved to its current location at 100 W. Atlantic Avenue.[3]
Facilities
At 46,826 square feet and two stories, the current library building is twice the size of the original.[3] The first floor houses new materials, self-checkout machines, audiovisuals, periodicals, the circulation desk, and the children’s department.[4] The meeting rooms, also on the first floor, seat up to 200 people.[4] The Lynda Hunter and Virginia Kimmel children's library also features an audio recording studio and a technology lab with 3D printers.[5] The second floor has a computer training technology lab, 40 PCs for public use, the Tower Conference Room, the Young adult room, quiet study rooms, and the Reference department.[4] The young adult and adult non-fiction, reference, biography, and older fiction collections can be found on the second floor as well. Wi-Fi is available to the public throughout the library.[4]
Services
Current residents in the state of Florida can receive a free library card.[4] The Delray Beach Public library has over 2,000 visitors per day.[6] The Delray Beach Public Library provides free information and resources which include printed books for all ages, audio books, large print books, magazines, foreign language materials, music CDs, videos, DVDs, as well as free access to the Internet, electronic databases, proctoring services, art exhibits, concerts, story times for children, a Lifelong Learning Community Institute, computer instruction, homework help, and job search assistance.[6][7]
Annual events
- Laugh with the Library, an annual comedy benefit[8]
Awards
- Greater Delray Beach Chamber Of Commerce - Luminary Gala Award, Non-Profit Organization of the Year 2011-2012[9]
- Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties-Forever Endowment Challenge (2017)[10]
References
- 1 2 "About Us". Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- 1 2 3 Farrar, C. W.; & Farrar, M. Incomparable Delray Beach: its early life and lore. Star Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 31–32.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kleinberg, E. "Delray public library marks its 100th year". Historic Palm Beach. Archived from the original on 2010-03-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "FAQ". Delray Beach Public Library. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Library ready to open expanded children's area". SunSentinel. Retrieved 26 February 2017
- 1 2 "Community Services". Delray Beach Public Library. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Lifelong Learning Community Institute @ the Delray Beach Public Library" (PDF). Delray Beach Public Library. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Delray Beach Public Library Facebook". Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Luminary Gala Winner List Master Past Luminary Gala Award Winners" (PDF). Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Invests More Than Half a Million into the Future of Local Nonprofits | Community Foundation Palm Beach Martin County". www.yourcommunityfoundation.org. Retrieved 2017-03-09.