Mineola Public Library

MINEOLA PUBLIC LIBRARY (LATER MINEOLA MEMORIAL LIBRARY) WAS ESTABLISHED LARGELY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF VIVIAN WILLIAMS LOTT. SHE BECAME INTERESTED IN OPENING A PUBLIC LIBRARY AFTER SEEING ONE WHILE WORKING AS A TEACHER IN SAN BENITO (CAMERON CO.) IN 1913. A 1940 EFFORT STALLED, BUT IN NOVEMBER 1949, THE MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERED AN UNUSED ROOM IN THE MINEOLA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FOR USE AS A LIBRARY. A GROUP OF LOCAL CITIZENS MET IN LOTT’S HOME TO BEGIN ORGANIZING THE INSTITUTION, AND DURING A 1950 PUBLIC MEETING, MINEOLA PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ESTABLISHED. IT OPENED IN THE SCHOOL ON MAY 22, 1950, WITH AROUND 600 BOOKS CATALOGUED. IN 1955, THE LIBRARY MOVED TO THE RENEAU BUILDING ON SOUTH JOHNSON STREET AND THEN TO AN EMPTY STORE BUILDING ON NORTH JOHNSON STREET IN 1957. HOWEVER, THE LIBRARY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN BECAUSE OF SPACE LIMITATIONS. THE JUDGE FAMILY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW BUILDING, INCLUDING THEIR HELP IN CONVINCING COMMUNITY LEADER HARRY MEREDITH TO DONATE $50,000 FOR THE PROJECT. HE SET UP THE MEREDITH FOUNDATION TO HANDLE THE FINANCIAL GIFT, AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THIS LOCATION IN 1959. THE NEW BUILDING OPENED THE NEXT YEAR. THE FACILITY AND LIBRARY FEATURES HAVE EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS. IN ADDITION TO LENDING BOOKS, THE LIBRARY HAS ALSO ORGANIZED COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OFFERED A STORY READING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. IN 1979, MINEOLA CITY REPRESENTATIVES DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY. THE INSTITUTION THEN CHANGED NAMES, BECOMING A LOCALLY-FUNDED LIBRARY WHEN THE MEREDITH FOUNDATION AGREED TO BECOME ITS BENEFACTOR. TODAY, MINEOLA MEMORIAL LIBRARY CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE LITERACY FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES IN THE COMMUNITY.

Mineola Public Library is a historical marker in Mineola, Wood County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 74 historical markers documented in Wood County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 141 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.6655, -95.4876 near Mineola. The nearest cataloged historic site is Harry W. Meredith (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Sarah Rosalie Patten Buchanan, First National Bank of Mineola, and The Thomas Breen Family.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016338. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.