WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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HISTORY

History of the Washington County Library

History of Libraries in Utah

"Library Association, St. George City and Washington County Libraries"
pp. 334-336 of the book, "Under Dixie Sun", Washington County Chapter D.U.P.

Douglas D Alder and Karl F Brooks, "A History of Washington County From Isolation to Destination"
pp. 165-165

"Library History File 1872-1991"
Microfilm book by the Washington County Library and State Archives and Records Service
Salt Lake City: State Archives and Records Service, 2003

OLD LYCEUM BUILDING

The St. George Library Association was incorporated by the Utah Territorial Assembly in 1864 and a library board of directors was appointed. They were charged with planning for a library in St. George. Various fund-raising projects were undertaken to purchase books and other reading materials. Other materials were collected in the indivdual "libraries" of the four St. George Wards. When the St. George Temple was completed in 1877, the supporting bakery building on the west side of Main Street between Tabernacle and First North was converted to a cultural center and meeting place, the "Lyceum" under control of the Relief Society and Mutual Improvement Associations. One room was set aside as a library and the previously mentioned reading materials were collected there. They remained there until the establishment of the Dixie Academy Library.

The Utah Humanities Research Foundation Records
http://db3-sql.staff.library.utah.edu/lucene/Manuscripts/null/Ms0044.xml/ContainerList
Box 9: Manuscripts and Documents
Folder 5: "Lyceum Building," by Josephine J. Miles, St. George.

DIXIE ACADEMY LIBRARY

86 S. Main Street
St. George, UT 84770

Under the direction of city officials, a library was set up in the new Dixie Academy building shortly after its opening in 1911. The first librarian, Ida Miles, was appointed in 1912. The Dixie Academy building still stands as the Leisure Services Building.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY

?? W. Tabernacle
St. George, UT 84770

In 1912, city officials applied for a grant from the Carnegie Foundation to build a new stand-alone library. In 1915, they received a grant of $8,000 to which the city added another $4,000. A library building was constructed between the St. George Tabernacle and the Woodward School. It was completed in 1916. In June of 1919, the St. George Public Library was converted to the Washington County Library with the city retaining ownership of the property. In 1928, the children's books were partitioned out into a separate department in the basement of the building.

Librarians included:
    Ione Bleak (????-6/1920)
    Clara Farnsworth (9/1920-6/1923)
    Roxey S. Romney (8/1923-????)
    Jennie Brown (Children's Librarian, 1928-????)
    Helen Starr (Children's Librarian, ????-????)
    Eliza Carpenter (Children's Librarian, ????-????)

Over the years, various improvements were made. Air conditioning was added, an oil furnace replaced the old coal heater, a new roof was put on, and various cabinets and furnishings were upgraded. The old Carnegie Libary building was finally demolished in 1981. The doors were preserved and are now used as the entrance to the Special Collections room in the Washington County Library building on 100 South in St. George.

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY

50 S. Main Street
St. George, UT 84770
(435)634-5737

This library was built in 1981 on the site of the old Dixie College gymnasium, between the St. George Tabernacle and the St. George Leisure Services Building. It was a one-story building with 56,000 books and included a computer lab and meeting rooms.

In November of 2001, a bond election provided $23M to expand this library with a second story and to build other branches around the county. Later, a decision was made to demolish this building and build a newer, bigger one on 100 South in the style of the other buildings in the area. The library was closed on 11/4/2006 and the site was cleared to make way for the new Town Square.

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - ST. GEORGE

88 West 100 South
St. George, UT 84770
(435)634-5737
http://library.washco.utah.gov
http://library.washco.utah.gov/st-george

This beautiful new building was constructed in the style of the other buildings around the new Town Square. It cost more than $5M and holds 110,000 books, has a computer lab, meeting rooms, and lots of space for reading and working. The building opened on 12/22/2006 and was dedicated on 2/19/2007.

This libary is currently in operation. It houses the offices of the Washington County Library system and serves as the St. George branch of that library.

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - SANTA CLARA BRANCH

1099 N. Lava Flow Drive
St. George, UT 84770
(435)986-0432
http://library.washco.utah.gov/santa-clara

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - HURRICANE BRANCH

36 South 300 West
Hurricane, UT 84737
(435)635-4621
http://library.washco.utah.gov/hurricane

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - SPRINGDALE BRANCH

126 Lion Blvd.
Springdale, UT 84767
Phone: 435.772.3676
http://library.washco.utah.gov/springdale

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - ENTERPRISE BRANCH

393 South 200 East
Enterprise, UT 84725
(435)878-2574
http://library.washco.utah.gov/enterprise

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - NEW HARMONY BRANCH

34 South 2900 East
New Harmony, UT 84757
(435)867-0065
http://library.washco.utah.gov/new-harmony

WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - WASHINGTON CITY BRANCH

220 North 300 East
Washington, UT 84780
(435)627-2706
http://library.washco.utah.gov/washington

VAL A. BROWNING LIBRARY AT DIXIE STATE COLLEGE

http://library.dixie.edu