Early History of the Screven County Library

The first librarian was Miss Carrie White.  Miss White began with only a few books, all of which were loaned or donated by interested citizens.  Not being satisfied with so small a collection, Miss White used her own money to buy books to start a rental shelf, and later used the proceeds from it to buy a few new books.  During those first months she carried the books over the county in her own car.  Later, Mrs. Isabel Cross of Dover was employed to work with her.

Others who served as Screven County librarians were Miss Willie Brigham, Miss Carol Chambless, Mrs. Ruth Waters and Mrs. G.D. Hillis.  During the first summer of its existence, the library was helped considerably by two book loans.  First the Sylvania school system furnished 300 books, and later the Georgia Library Commission made a loan of 100 books.  With the help of Mrs. Mildred Sheppard, then the Screven County Home Demonstration agent, several reading clubs were organized in the county.  In this way, the service of the library began to expand.  When Mrs. Sheppard moved to Milledgeville, Miss Mary Gibbs, who replaced her, continued to take books out into the country.

As the services and the number of books increased, the library felt growing pains.  The headquarters was first moved to the Hill Building and later upstairs over the Health Department.  By 1950, it had become evident that another move must be made and the Sylvania Masonic Lodge offered the lower floor of its building on West Telephone Street.  Civic organizations built shelves, painted and in other ways helped to decorate the library .

The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library was organized in November 1951, at a series of meetings in which interested citizens of Screven and Jenkins counties worked out details and drew up a contract.  It was decided that the regional headquarters would be the Screven County Library.  A regional library board was formed consisting of the county school superintendents of the two counties, the chairmen of the library boards, and one member elected annually and alternating between the counties.

Under the regional library agreement, a public library is operated in both counties.  Library service is provided for the rural sections of the county and the schools with the bookmobile.

The Regional library program is financed by the two counties with the help of the state and some funds from the Library Service and Construction Act.  Each county seat, Sylvania and Millen, the Board of Commissioners, and the Board of Education of both counties contribute financially to the library.  The State Department of Education provides money for library material (books, magazines, etc.) and the salaries of the professional staff members.

The first staff members were Miss Mildred Looney, director; Mrs. J.S. Powell, library assistant; Miss Nell Smith, stenographer-bookmobile driver; and Mrs. G.D. Hillis, Screven County Librarian.

Not satisfied with offering service only at the two county libraries, the Screven-Jenkins Regional Library started bookmobile service early in 1952 and rural patrons were able to get their books at "their own front doors."

When Miss Clare Mincey became associate director in charge of bookmobile services in September, 1952, full time bookmobile service was available to people in both counties, black and white.

Early in 1952, Miss Looney was visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Lorimer.  During the conversation about the library, Mr. Lorimer expressed a desire to make a donation to the library.  This was the beginning of the possibility of a new library building.  However, Mr. Lorimer's sudden death came before the donation was made.  In the spring of 1953, Mrs. Lorimer made a generous gift of $8000. to be applied to the construction of a new library building for Screven County.  The only requirement was that it be matched with an equal amount within six months.  The amount was matched by the Board of Commissioners and the remaining amount need to build the new library was raised through a bond issue passed in August 1955.

The new building was constructed in 1955 and the library moved to its new location on East Ogeechee Street on January 2, 1957.

The new building seemed quite spacious with lots of empty shelf space.  However, as the years passed the materials collection continued to grow.

In June 1960, Miss Looney resigned as director and Miss Mincey was appointed to serve in this capacity.

With the funds available through the LSCA special allotments, new equipment was bought.  Filmstrips, records, filmstrip projectors, screens, a record player, tape cassettes, tape players, a copy machine, etc. were made available to the public.  Other equipment such as table and chairs, shelving, etc, were added.

Source

"Screven County Library Has History of Service" The Sylvania Telephone, January 25, 1973.