1638-11 Public Buildings L1b
The Miami Beach Public Library was inaugurated by the members
of the Miami Beach Woman's Club at a book party held at the
Pancoast Hotel on June 8, 1927.
With the financial support of the City of Miami Beach, the
library was formally opened for the free circulation of books
(954 miscellaneous volumes) in the Hampton Arcade, Lincoln
Road and Michigan Avenue on June 28, 1927. At that time, Miss
Bertha Aldrich was appointed head librarian.
In the year 1934, the library was moved into the center section
of the present building in Collins Park. with 18,000 volumes and
a corresponding increase in maintenance funds was given by the
city.
In the year 1946, the City of Miami Beach assumed full res-
ponsibility of the public library making it a department of
the City government with an ample and expanded budget for its
needs.
In 1938, the south wing was added, a memorial to the late
John 3. Collins, pioneer and early developer of Miami Beach.
The south wing was erected by his daughter, Mrs. Thomas J.
Pancoast, then Chairman of the Library Board. The second-floor
space for an art gallery was added in 1938 also.
In 1950, two sore additions were made: the north wing to house
the dirculating department and the west wing housing the young
people's department and a second-floor for additional book stacks.
The Miami Beach Library as it stands today is a great monument
to the early vision of the civic minded members of the Miami
Beach Woman's Club.
The citizens of Miami Beach are becomibg increasingly aware
of this community's growing needs especially regarding our
public library. The Library Board, under the chairmanship of
Mrs. Anna Brenner Meyers, is constantly aware of the eertiee
a public library can give to our community and are making many
plans for improving and extending library services.
P. S. It may be of interest to include some information about
the maps in the circulating department. These historical maps
of Florida are a series of nine aural paintings by Richard and
Sybil Fatiguant. From the earliest conceptions of what the state
of Florida looked like until 1845when Florida became a state of
the Union, the artists have reproduced faithfully the outline of
Florida as it appears in the original maps of eight distinct
periods in its history, and a modern map is also included showing
Florida and its neighboring countries. Arrangements in color
have been originated by the artists, giving each map individuality
and character typical of uta period.