For more than 85 years, access to books and reading has been at the heart of Liberty County. What began in the 1930s as a small lending library on the second floor of the First Liberty National Bank (known now as First Liberty Bank) has grown into the Liberty Municipal Library, now home to more than 60,000 volumes.
That growth has been possible thanks to the dedication of individuals such as Mary Lou Riviere Greak and the continued support of the Liberty community.
The library will celebrate its anniversary with a community event from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Liberty Municipal Library, located at 1710 Sam Houston St. inside the Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center. The event will also highlight September as Library Card Signup Month. Library cards are free to all Texas residents.
The Liberty Municipal Library has a rich history. On Sept. 14, 1940, it opened its doors as the first public library in Liberty County, operating out of a one-room building on the northeast corner of the city square at 423 Travis. The building could hold up to 5,000 books, but as the city grew, so did the need for more space.
On Oct. 18, 1970, the library moved to its current location in the cultural center, a property once known as the Seven Pines.
Today, the Liberty Municipal Library remains a cornerstone of the community, providing access to information, resources and programs for residents across the county.
Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Trivium Club of Liberty, a Federated Women’s Club, was very instrumental in the development of the Library and still supports it to this day. We Ladies are very proud of the continuing growth & involvement of the Library in our community.
I have heard that. The Trivium Club brought the idea of a library to Council 85 years ago. They also purchased the first library books to go in that building. There were many groups, organizations, and individuals who have come together to bring this library to Liberty. However, not all were mentioned in the article.