The Children's Library Through the Years

The Children’s Library in Downtown Orlando

The Albertson Public Library 1923 – 1964

When the Albertson Public Library opened on November 8, 1923, the Children’s Room was located on the ground floor or basement on the east side of the building at the corner of Central and Rosalind. Weekly story hours, monthly birthday celebrations, special events and vacation reading clubs drew large numbers of children and parents.

^{The Children’s Reading Room at the Albertson Public Library circa 1929.}

The Children’s Room featured smaller versions of the furniture used in the rest of the library. Blueprints of the library show the east side of the building with the street level entry doors to the right.

^{The east side of the library showing the doors at street level to the right.}

Blueprint 225-2 below, shows the ground floor or basement of the Albertson Public Library with the Children’s Reading Room on the right side at the corner of Central and Rosalind.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ocls-wide-formats-large-pages_Page_04-scaled.jpg — **^{Children’s Room located on the ground floor/basement at the corner of Central and Rosalind (on right).}**

This portion of blueprint 225-1 (below) shows the east side of the building with the retaining wall and gate detail for the street level entrance. The area just inside the gates noted on the blueprint, is where the children’s garden was later located.

^{East side of Albertson Public library retaining wall and gate details. (From Rosalind facing west.)}

Using newspaper clippings and flyers, the Children’s Department scrapbook documents all the events presented for children of all ages from 1924 to 1930 at the library and in the community, including the Beacham Theatre! Attendance statistics and notations provide the names of books and movies shared with the children in Orlando almost 100 years ago.

^{Garden on Rosalind side of the library paid for by Annetta O, B. Walker of Portland Maine.}

In 1935, Miss Annetta O’B. Walker of Portland, Maine made a donation reported to have been between $3500-$4000 dollars to create a beautiful garden just inside the gate on Rosalind.

**^{The gate on Rosalind Avenue marks the east entrance to the lower floor of the library.}**

1966 – ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Albertson Public Library was demolished in 1964 and the new Orlando Public Library was dedicated and officially opened to the public on August 7, 1966. The Children’s area was in the basement of the new building at the corner of Rosalind and Central.

^{Children’s reading area in the basement of the 1966 Orlando Public Library.}

^{Children’s Department in the basement of the 1966 Orlando Public Library. (This view is from Rosalind facing west.)}

The basement’s low ceilings, quiet surroundings, and furnishings that were just right for youngsters, created a cozy setting for families with children. Puppet shows were presented in the children’s area, as shown in the photo below.

**^{Parents and children enjoy a puppet show in the Children’s area in the basement of the 1966 Orlando Public Library.}**

Although only about one third the size of the current Children’s Library, the Conference Room and the auditorium, with seating for up to 200 people, were available for Story Time and other events.

**^{Story Time in the Auditorium in the basement of the 1966 Orlando Public Library.}**

1986 – ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY EXPANSION

**^{Painting of the newly expanded Orlando Public Library}**

Not very long after the opening of the 1966 Orlando Public Library, it became clear that the current library was too small to accommodate the needs of the growing Central Florida community. A referendum was passed in 1980 to fund a major expansion increasing the floor space from 60,000 to 290,000 square feet.

**^{Children’s Library in the basement of the 1986 expansion.}**

The Children’s Department was greatly expanded and moved to the center of the building but remained in the basement as it had always been. The basement floor plan (below) shows the layout of the furnishings and shelving.

**^{Basement Floor Plan with furnishings and shelving. (This is from Central facing North.)}**

NEW CHILDREN’S LIBRARY OPENS May 1999

Dorothy Field became the fourth director of the Orange County Library system in May 1995. One of her lasting accomplishments was relocating the Children’s Library from the basement to the first floor of the Orlando Public Library.

**^{Entrance to the Children’s Library. Photo March 2020.}**

Gregg Gronlund, former member of the Storytelling Troupe, explained the reason for the move:
“When Dorothy Field became Library Director, she decided to move the Childrens Department from the
basement to the first floor of the Main library. Children, parents and staff had fond memories of the
basement department, enjoying its safe, separated space with low ceilings and dedicated program
spaces. Nevertheless, Dorothy felt the basement location had an inadvertent stigma of relegating
children to being out of sight and separate. She felt the first floor location made a statement that the
children were important to the present and future of the library and put them front and center. So the
move was done to create an artistically stunning space, with stimulating storybook themed design,
which has been very successful ever since.”

The focus in the new Children’s Library is on literature, floating pages of books adorn the entrance; a castle and mural depict illustrations from The Wizard of Oz; a cracker-style “Cross Creek” porch is reminiscent of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and a colorful mobile “Under the Sea” hangs from the ceiling.

**^{“Under the Sea” mobile in the Children’s Library. Photo March 2020.}**

The new location comprised the entire first floor of the 1966 Orlando Public Library, originally the location of the Young Adult Department and Business and Reference areas.

The new Children’s Library opened to the public on Sunday, May 23, 1999, at 4 p.m., with a special event for staff members and their families earlier that afternoon.

**^{Announcement in the May 1999 Books and Beyond newsletter.}**

The OCLS staff newsletter reported on the event: “On Sunday, May 23, over one hundred staff members and their families gathered to celebrate the storybook opening of our new Children’s Library.

Grand Opening of the new Children's Library for Staff and families Mary 23, 1999. — **^{Library Director Dorothy Field in front of the entrance to the new Children’s Library.}**

After enjoying refreshments and welcoming remarks from Dorothy Field and Ron Harbert, the crowd was treated to the first view of the Children’s Library as Jake Fry pulled the curtain away and everyone entered under the floating pages of children’s literature. The light, bright and spacious area with its unusual and dramatic artistic touches was immediately accommodating to book lovers of all ages.

Dorothy Field at the Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999. — **^{Library Director Dorothy Field at the Grand Opening of the Children’s Department}**

Storytellers Charlie Hoeck and Richard Peeples gathered the group again for song and story and were a great hit. Later that afternoon staff welcomed a huge crowd of adults and children to the opening festivities for the public.”

**^{Storytellers Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck with Library Director Dorothy Field in pink.}**

As a nod to the library’s director, Dorothy Field, scenes from the Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum, including the castle were part of the new Children’s Library decor.

Peruse the many photographs of the Children’s Department in the 1966 Orlando Public Library, the 1986 expansion and the Grand Opening celebration of the Children’s Library on the first floor of the Main library on May 23, 1999.

TAGS: 100, children's department, Children's Library, children's programs

ATTACHMENTS

images (97) video (0) audio (0) links (0) documents (2)

Blueprint of the Albertson Library

Blueprint of the Albertson Library showing the Rosalind side wall and gate

Blueprint of the Albertson Library

Blueprint of the Albertson Library showing the Rosalind side wall and gate

1966 Orlando Public Library

1966 Orlando Public Library. The view is from Rosalind at Wall Street looking southwest.

1966 Children's Department in the basement

1966 Children's Department in the basement.

1966 Floorplan

1966 Floorplan showing children's department, children's restrooms and the Conference Room and Auditorium used for story time and other events.

1966 Children's Department in Basement

Former 1966 Children's Department in Basement

1966 Children's Department in Basement

The new 1966 building included an area for Children in the basement near Central and Rosalind.

Former 1966 Children's Department in Basement

1966 Children's Department in Basement

Children's Department in the Basement

Children's Department in the Basement 1966 Building - Karen and Alexander Muszynski, Ann Robertson

Storytime in the Auditorium

Storytime in the Auditorium in the basement.

1986 Children's Department in Basement

Layout of the 1986 Children's Department in Basement in the new expansion.

Storytellers

PHOTO OF CHILDREN’S LIBRARY STAFF IN THE BASEMENT AROUND 1992. STANDING: GREGG GRONLUND, CHARLIE HOECK, AND CHRISTI COHEN. SITTING: CRYSTAL SULLIVAN...

Children's Department in basement 1986 building

Storyteller Charlie Hoeck

Storyteller Carolyn Rosenblum

Little ones at Story Time

Margaret Wells, Warren French, Sally Hardy

Storyteller Charlie Hoeck

OCLS Staff at KSC Summer Camp

This was at the Kennedy Space Center during the summer initiative that Kennedy Space Center offered to teachers over the summer. It’s...

Story Tellers

Clockwise: Stefani Koorey, Charlie Hoeck, Jane Tracy, Crystal Sullivan

Storyteller Stefani Koorey

Storyteller Jane Tracy

Storytellers Jane Tracy, Stefani Koorey, Crystal Sullivan

Storyteller Crystal Sullivan

Storyteller Jane Tracy

Crystal Sullivan

Charlie Hoeck

Charlie Hoeck - Who's that cat in the hat?

Children's Department in basement 1986 building

Former Children's Department in Basement

Former Children's Department in Basement of the 1986 building

Children's Department in the Basement of the 1986 building

Former Children's Department in Basement

Former Children's Department in Basement of the 1986 building

Children's Department in the Basement of the 1986 building

Storytellers Stefani Koorey, Jane Tracy, Charlie Hoeck, Crystal Sullivan

Crystal Sullivan

Crystal Sullivan and Charlie Hoeck

Charlie Hoeck

Storytellers Charlie Hoeck and Crystal Sullivan

Charlie Hoeck

Library Director Dorothy Field

Library Director Dorothy Field at the Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999. Staff and families were invited to...

Library Director Dorothy Field

Library Director Dorothy Field at the Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

The Clock

The Clock - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Old Book Truck elevator

Old book truck elevator - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Richard Peeples, Charlie Hoeck and Dorothy Field

Richard Peeples, Charlie Hoeck and Dorothy Field - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck

Richard Peeples and Charlie Hoeck - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Papa Bear Room

Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Magee Jennings

Magee Jennings (Mouse) and Margaret Wells

If you give a mouse a cookie

Magee Jennings (Mouse) and Margaret Wells

Magee Jennings (Mouse) and Patty Moessens

If you give a mouse a cookie

Magee Jennings (Mouse) and Patty Moessens and Margaret Wells

Magee Jennings (Mouse) and Patty Moessens

Patty Moessens

Entertainer from the Puppet Guild

Book Talker Christie Cohen

Storytellers Jane Tracy, Charlie Hoeck, Crystal Sullivan and Stefanie Koorey

Crystal Sullivan

Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Grand Opening Ribbon

The Porch

The Porch - Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Clifford the Big Red Dog - Grand Opening May 23, 1999

Mary Ann Tanner

Storyteller Rosemary Brieghtupt

Grand Opening of the new Children's Library May 23, 1999.

Charlie Hoeck in Papa Bear Room

Storytellers circa 2002

Storytellers circa 2002 - Richard Peeples, Stefani Koorey, Rosemary Brieghtupt, Charlie Hoeck and Crystall Sullivan.

Storytellers circa 2002

Storytellers circa 2002 - Richard Peeples, Stefani Koorey, Charlie Hoeck, Crystal Sullivan, Rosemary Breightupt.

Richard Peeples - 2002

Story Time

Crystal Sullivan

Margaret Wells and Magee Jennings

Richard Peeples - Head Start

Richard Peeples and Friends of the Library at Head Start Event

Richard Peeples - Head Start

Richard Peeples and Friends of the Library at Head Start Event

Entrance to the Children's Library

Entrance to the Children's Library, May 1, 2023

Entrance to the Children's Library

Entrance to the Children's Library, May 1, 2023

Wizard of Oz murals

Castle taken from Under the Sea

Castle taken from Under the Sea, May 1, 2023.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk, May 1, 2023.

Computer area

Computer area looking into the alcove which was book return in the 1966 building.

Napping Lizard wall art

Napping Lizard wall art, May 1, 2023

The Clock

The Clock, May 1, 2023

The Porch

The Porch, May 1, 2023

Under the Sea

Under the Sea, May 1, 2023.

Under the Sea

Under the Sea, May 1, 2023.

Entrance to the Children's Library

Entrance to the Children's Library, March 2020.

There are currently no video related to this memory.

There are currently no audio related to this memory.

There are currently no links related to this memory.

1986-Children-Basement.pdf

Basement layout with furnishings for the Children's Department 1986 building

Opening-Staff-Newsletter.pdf

Staff Newsletter - Opening of the Children's Library

The Children’s Library Through the Years

The Children’s Library in Downtown Orlando

The Albertson Public Library 1923 – 1964

1966 – ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY

1986 – ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY EXPANSION

NEW CHILDREN’S LIBRARY OPENS May 1999

Leave a Comment Cancel reply