WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
LIBRARIES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
HISTORY
History of the Washington County LibraryHistory 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 on January 22, 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 StreetSt. 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. As you go up the stairs to the main floor from the front entrance, the library was on the right. The first librarian, Ida Miles, was appointed in 1912. When the new gymnasium building was opened, the library was moved over to it. The Dixie Academy building still stands as the Leisure Services Building.
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CARNEGIE LIBRARY
53 W. TabernacleSt. George, UT 84770
Plat A, Block 16, East half of Lot 5 on the old pioneer map of St. George.
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.
WCHS-05477 Photo of the old Carnegie Library Building
WCHS-04072 Photo of the old Carnegie Library Building
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OLD HURRICANE LIBRARY
35 W. State StreetHurricane, UT 84737
Between 1938 and 1940, the Works Project Administration (WPA) built a Hurricane Library & City Hall. The Library department in the building consisted of a large, general reading room where the book borrowers selected and signed out their books. A smaller room opening off the general reading room was designated as a children's room. The general reading room was furnished with five long tables, 24 chairs, three shelf compartments, each sectioned with shelves, a desk and other small necessities. The library was well lighted and ventilated with heat being furnished by a large oil-burning furnace. In the late 1980s, this libarary was replaced with a new Hurricane Branch of the Washington County Library.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY
50 S. Main StreetSt. 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.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - ST. GEORGE BRANCH
88 West 100 SouthSt. George, UT 84770
(435)634-5737
http://library.washco.utah.gov
http://library.washco.utah.gov/st-george
Meeting Room Policy
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.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - SANTA CLARA BRANCH
1099 N. Lava Flow DriveSt. George, UT 84770
(435)986-0432
http://library.washco.utah.gov/santa-clara
WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - HURRICANE BRANCH
36 South 300 WestHurricane, UT 84737
(435)635-4621
http://library.washco.utah.gov/hurricane
In the late 1980s, this branch library replaced the old Hurricane Library.
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 EastEnterprise, UT 84725
(435)878-2574
http://library.washco.utah.gov/enterprise
WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - NEW HARMONY BRANCH
34 South 2900 EastNew Harmony, UT 84757
(435)867-0065
http://library.washco.utah.gov/new-harmony
WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY - WASHINGTON CITY BRANCH
220 North 300 EastWashington, UT 84780
(435)627-2706
http://library.washco.utah.gov/washington
VAL A. BROWNING LIBRARY AT DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY
Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons225 South 700 East
St. George, UT 84770
(435)652-7714
Text: 66746
library@dixie.edu
http://library.dixie.edu
For information on the Special Collections Archives and Regonal Repository, click here.