Sorosis Club of Orlando
The beginnings of the current Orange County Library System can be traced to the circulating library collection of the Sorosis Club of Orlando. The collection was initially housed on the second floor of the old Armory building on Court Street and was subsequently moved to the Knox building at the corner of Pine and Court streets. On May 11, 1920, Orlando citizens showed by a vote of 417 to 19 that they wanted a library and were willing to pay for it.
The Albertson Public Library
Captain Charles L. Albertson, a retired New York City police inspector and winter resident of Orlando was an avid book collector. For many years he maintained a library in his home in Waverly, New York, and loaned books to residents. On November 10, 1921, Captain Albertson, the library committee of the Chamber of Commerce, the mayor and commissioners met to discuss Captain Albertson’s proposal to donate his book collection to the city. The proposal made the front page of the Evening Reporter Star the following day. Mayor Duckworth and the city commissioners unanimously accepted Captain Albertson’s proposition and his collection of books on November 12, 1921.
The official agreement was signed on November 26, 1921, and stated that Captain Albertson would give his extensive collection to the city of Orlando with these stipulations: the city would provide a suitable library building, it would be called the Albertson Public Library, and Captain Albertson would serve as the Advisory Superintendent of the Library.
On February 21, 1922, the City held a bond election for certain municipal improvements, including a public library building. The total cost of the building, grounds and equipment was $110,000. On November, 8, 1923, the doors of the Library were opened to the public. Read more about the Albertson Library in the beginning.
ABOVE: 1945 painting by James Stoll. The above painting by James Stoll shows the area surrounding the Albertson Public Library in 1945. West of the library are the Salvation Army Citadel, Orlando Chamber of Commerce Building. Further west on the other side of Main Street (now Magnolia) is the old red brick Court House with the new court house to the right. On Wall Street is the Orlando Utilities building, the Young Women’s Community Club and the First Church of Christ Scientist. Just north of the church on Rosalind you can see Memorial Junior High School.
Read more about the Albertson Public Library – In the beginning!
Bookmobile
In early 1949, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce presented a proposal for a bookmobile to the board of the Albertson Public Library. The ladies of the Orlando Sorosis Club agreed that a bookmobile would allow the library to bring books to the small communities of Orange County, so they spearheaded a drive to raise funds for the purchase of the vehicle. By December 1949, the bookmobile was on the road!
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library was also established in 1949. A notice published in the February 27, 1949, Sentinel Star announced that the Winter Park – Orlando Zonta Club was meeting to sponsor a new organization to be called “Friends of the Library”.
Expansion or a New Library Needed
Board of Directors Proposal For Expansion
In February 1954, the library Board of Directors published the “Proposed Building Expansion Program,” stating that the Albertson Library was inadequate to serve the present and future population of the city of Orlando. The proposal called for an expansion of the current building or an additional structure on adjacent property.
What we need and Why we need it?
In the “Statement of Clara Wendel, Director, Albertson Public Library,” created around 1958, the need for a new main library building in Orlando and two conveniently located branch library buildings was explained in detail. Ms. Wendel enumerates the inadequacies of the current building and lays out the requirements for a new building.
Orlando Jaycees Report
Library Committee of the Orlando Jaycees published a report in 1959 on library conditions, stating the the Albertson Public Library was no longer able to meet the needs of its staff or the community.
Preparation for the long awaited and badly needed new Main library began three years later in 1962 when Orlando voters approved funds for construction and the city acquired additional land adjacent to the original site at Rosalind and Central. In 1964, the library moved to temporary headquarters at 905 North Orange Avenue, the Albertson building was demolished, and construction began. On July 23, 1966, the temporary location closed and the staff and collections were moved to the new building.
Orlando Public Library
The Orlando Public Library building was dedicated on a rainy Sunday afternoon on August 7, 1966. The architect, John M. Johansen of New Canaan, Connecticut, called his design a “composition in monolithic concrete.”
In 1974, just eight years after the opening of the new library, it became evident that much more space was needed. In 1978, the library secured a commitment from the Orlando City Council to purchase the rest of the block to the west of the existing site, and in 1980 the voters approved the sale of $22 million in bonds for construction of the new building.
The 1966 building closed in March 1985 and the new expansion opened to the public on April 8, 1985. Renovation of the 1966 building began immediately, thereafter.
Library Expansion
A grand opening celebration for the expansion and renovation took place on Sunday, April 6, 1986.
The 290,000 square foot Orlando Public Library encompasses an entire city block bounded by Magnolia Avenue, Central Boulevard, Rosalind Avenue and Wall Street. It took 19,000 cubic yards of concrete to construct the expansion of the Brutalist style building. A major challenge presented to architect Duane Stark and his team was to design an expansion that would blend seamlessly with the original 1966 Johansen structure. The measure of Stark’s success is apparent in the exterior of the building. The color and texture of the new exterior walls match the rough hewn cedar pattern of the original poured-concrete walls belying the fact that they were completed 19 years apart.
Historical Documents
History of library service for Orange County 1923-1962
History of the library 1923-1970
Brief History of Library Service for Orange County has details from 1923-1962 and, a lot of the information, deals with the bookmobile, traveling branch (also a bookmobile) and library stations.Library history timeline 1900-1991
25th Silver Anniversary, November 1948
The 1948 booklet created in 1948 with a review of the library’s history through 1948.
Welcome to your Public Library – Silver Anniversary
Booklet created by library staff for the Silver Anniversary open house.
Orlando Public Library – Marking 50 Years of Library Service
Library History booklet created in 1973 for the 50th Anniversary of the Orlando Public Library.
Orlando Public Library – 75th Anniversary
Library History booklet created in 1998 for the 75th Anniversary of the Orlando Public Library.
History of Library Service for Orange County 1923-1962
History of the Library appears to have been created in 1970 as the last data mentioned is from 1969. It has a great history of the branches, including the bookmobiles, traveling branch, and the library stations.
Johansen’s Orlando Library
Article about the Orlando Public Library – Architectural Record, June 1967.
Architecture for Florida Living
Photographic review in the 1968 premiere edition.
Brief History of the Library circa 1970
Brief History of Library Service for Orange County has details from 1923-1962 and, a lot of the information, deals with the bookmobile, traveling branch (also a bookmobile) and library stations.
Library Expansion Open House – May 29, 1985
Flyer handed out at the grand opening of the newly expanded Library building on May 29, 1985.
OPL Expansion Celebration 1986
The Orlando Public Library expansion Celebration took place on Sunday, April 6, 1986.
OPL Expansion – Florida Magazine 6 April 1986
The Florida Magazine section of the Orlando Sentinel published on 6 April 1986 heralded the opening of the new edition to the library.
OPL Expansion – Central Florida Magazine April 1986
The April 1986 Central Florida Magazine presents the history of the library from its earliest beginnings to the expansion completed in 1986.
A historical retrospective video created for the 100th Anniversary of the Orange County Library was created in 2023. This video, comprised of archival photos/video footage and narrated by past and present OCLS employees, celebrates the library’s first 100 years by highlighting select milestones.
Persons and departments mentioned in photos below: Margaret Wells, Genealogy Department, Friends Bookstore, Young Adult Department, Remodeling of the 2nd floor, Business and Social Science Department, Questline, Craig Wilkins, Mary Ann Hodel, Library Director Dorothy Field, Rich Gause, Carl Brown, Kathryn Robinson, Susan Zwer, Angela Jacobe, Eleanor Crawford, Angela Green, Debbie Moss, Circulation, Dorothy Field, Elvis, Carolyn Rosenblum, Bob Tessier, Eleanor Gentry, John Martin, Judy Mucci, Paul Neal Heather Bodiford, Arts and Literature department, Debra Tour, Debbie Tour, Rita Lloyd, TicTac Toe, Carl Brown, Carl “Captain Crunch” Brown, Katherine Cooper, DRI Office, Special Services, Director Glenn Miller, Eleanor Crawford, Audio Visual Department, Monika Cooper, Joe Justice, Dawn Villano, Cam Rickleman, Mark Minzak, Steve Gataletto, Mary Jane Humm, Sally Hardy, Ruth Quinn, Carla Fountain, Books by Mail, Maxie Pittman, Nedra Blanke, Underwood Martin, Toni Ripley, Wizard of IS, Tonia Hinkle, Alzo Reddick, Sally Fry, Ann Gistarb, Bell, Beauty and the Beast, Central Florida Zoo, Kris Woodson, Kelly Pepo, Lynette Schimpf, Sheri Chambers, Remodeled Library Central, Halloween, Elinor Williams, Nicole Cavallaro, Tammy Erikstrup, Staff Association, Staff Association Cook Book, Ramsey, FISH Spirit, Talking Books, Eatonville Branch, Coloring Contest, Technical Services Remodel, Staff Day 2008, Mike Worrell, Charlie Hoeck, Albertson Public Library, August Calabrese, Winter Garden Branch, postcard, Mercedes Stephens, Brian Calhoun, Gregg Gronlund, Anne Rosebrock, Pat Lane, Pam Sogge, Nicole Heinzleman, Vera Gubnitskaia, Eric Heinzleman. 1966 Library, 1985 Library, Cam Rickleman, Chuck Davis, Sue Wright, Crystal Sullivan, Patsy Aman, Cathy Jensen, Danielle Camelle, Rosemary Breitup, Dana Oscarson, Brian Calhoun, Lisa Gryzinski, Lisa Stewart, Bobi Gonzalez.
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Albertson Public Library Postcard
Albertson Public Library at the corner of Central Blvd. and Rosalind Avenue circa 1930.
1966 Dedication brochure
Brochure cover for the Dedication of the Orlando Public Library on August 7, 1966.
Orlando Public Library
The sign at the front of the Orlando Public Library in Orlando, Florida.
Young Adult Department on the 1st Floor
Looking down into the Young Adult Department from the second floor of the 1966 Orlando Public Library building. This area is now...
Young Adult Department on the 2nd Floor
Young Adult Department in the 1966 Orlando Public Library
Orlando Public Library - 1966 Building
Orlando Public Library, 1966 exterior photo showing the entrance ramp on Rosalind Street.
Library Director Glenn Miller
Library Director Glenn Miller in his office on the 2nd floor.
OCLS Dinner 1975
Judy Mucci, Carl Brown, 1975.
FOL Newsletter March 1986 Grand Opening
Friends of the Library March 1986 newsletter. "Coming up - The Grand Opening Celebration, Sunday April 6. The Grand Celebration of the completion of...
Orlando Public Library Exterior Postcard 1986
Photo postcard showing the exterior of the Main Library, viewed from the corner of Central Blvd. and Rosalind Avenue.
Friends Bookstore Postcard
Postcard promoting the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Photo of the Main Library and a photo of customers in the bookstore.
Orlando Public Library Postcard
Postcard with four photos showing exterior of library from Central and Rosalind; drive up window; lobby; and books by mail processing area.
Genealogy Department Opening
Opening of the Genealogy collection on the 4th floor of the Main library. The Genealogy collection was relocated to the West Oaks...
Library Social Science Department
Social Sciences Department on the 2nd floor of the Orlando Public library, around 1985.
Questline in the 90's
Craig Wilkins, from Questline, circa 1990's.
Debbie Moss
Debbie Moss in Circulation.
Eleanor Gentry, Kathryn Robinson, John Martin
Eleanor Gentry, Kathryn Robinson, and John Martin at the Orlando Public Library 1992.
Arts and Literature 1st Floor
Judy Mucci, Paul Neal, Heather Bodiford, Arts and Literature 1st Floor, Orlando Public Library
Debra Tour Questline 1994
Debra Tour, Questline in 1994.
Questline TicTacToe Monitor 1995
Early days of Questline in 1995, TicTacToe Monitor system.
Rita Lloyd in Special Services
Rita Lloyd, Special Services
DRI Office 1994
Katherine Cooper, Kathryn Robinson, DRI Office 1994.
Questline Tutorial
Carl "Captain Crunch" Brown, online network approach to phone reference service.
Special Services
Pink bags in Special Services
Genealogy
Eleanor Crawford, Genealogy in 1991.
Audio Visual Department
Steve Gataletto, Margaret Wells, Audio Visual Department
Questline
Monika Cooper, Questline
Luncheon
Joe Justice, Kathryn Robinson, Dawn Villano, Cam Rickleman, Mark Minzak, Steve Gataletto, Mary Jane Humm, Sally Hardy, Ruth Quinn, Carla Fountain
Books By Mail
Maxie Pittman
Questline
Nedra Blanke, Craig Wilkins
Mucci, Judy
Judy Mucci, Assistant Director
K-Rob, J-Mart
John Martin, Kathryn Robinson
Asst. Dir. Judy Mucci
Judy Mucci, Assistant Director
Underwood
Underwood Martin
John and Carla
John Martin, Carla Fountain in 2001
K-Rob, Toni Ripley
Kathryn Robinson, Toni Ripley
Judy Mucci Award
State Representative Alzo Reddick, parents of Judy Mucci, and water color painting by Glenn Miller, Director.
OCLS Staff 1991
Sally Fry, Ann Gistarb, Judy Mucci, John Martin in 1991
Dorothy Field's Retirement 2001
Director Dorothy Field's retirement party in 2001. L-R: Kathryn Robinson, Carolyn Rosenblum, Debbie Moss, Bob Tessier.
Wizard of IS 2001
Employees act out The Wizard of IS at Director Dorothy Field's retirement. L-R: Tonia Hinkle, Bob Tessier, Kathryn Robinson, John Martin.
Elinor Williams
Beloved librarian Elinor Williams passed away 19 November 2005. She was an active member of Mt. Zion MIssionary Baptist Institutional Church and known...
OCLS Jeans Day! 2008
Nicole Cavallaro and Tammy Erikstrup on St. Patrick's Jeans Day.
Cover of Staff Association Cookbook - 1998
Cover of the Staff Association Cookbook, Library Delights - 1998
Talking Books on the 2nd Floor circa 2006
Talking Book Collection from the Orlando Public Library.
For Dummies Display: Library Central 2008
The idea was a 'For Dummies' dispenser instead of a Pez Dispenser.
Technical Services Renovation
Renovation of Technical Services at the Downtown Orlando Public Library.
August 2023 Tech Services - Up on the Roof
On August 11, 2023, members of the Tech Services department said goodbye to Asst. Manager Stacey Lawson with a tour of the...
Tech Services Touring the Library
On August 11, 2023, members of the Tech Services department said goodbye to Asst. Manager Stacey Lawson with a tour of the...
Postcard (back) - Orlando Public Library circa 1985
Postcard showing the architects rendering of the Orlando Public Library after the expansion in 1985. Visible is Magnolia Avenue when it was...
Postcard (front) - Orlando Public Library Circa 1985
Postcard showing the architect's rendering of the Orlando Public Library after the expansion in 1985. Visible is Magnolia Avenue when it was...
Postcard (front) - Orlando Public Library circa 1970
Postcard of the 1966 Orlando Public Library that replaced the Albertson's Public Library circa 1970. The Albertson's Public Library faced Central Blvd....
Postcard (back) - Orlando Public Library circua 1970
The back of a postcard of the "New" Orlando Public Library that replaced the Albertson's Public Library circa 1970. The Albertson's public...
library staff 1980s
Two Orange County Library Staff members at the Orlando Library, Young Adult Department, 2nd Floor. Orlando natives - L-R Mike Worrell...
2nd Floor - Orlando Public Library
Brian Calhoun, Mercedes Stephens, Eleanor Gentry
Orlando Public Library - Law Collection
The Orlando Public Library housed the Orange County Bar Association law collection until 4 January 2006. This photo is of the former...
Orlando Public Library - Arts and Literature Staff
This is a photo of staff members from the old Arts and Literature Department at the library. From Left to Right front...
Orlando Public Library - Kathryn Robinson
This is a photo Kathryn Robinson in August 2002 as the library prepared to move materials from the first floor to 2nd...
Orlando Public Library - Kathryn Robinson
Kathryn Robinson 1992.
Library Board of Directors from 1923 to 1973
From the 50th Anniversary of the Orlando Public Library Booklet. List of Board members from 1923 to present (1973): Sexton Johnson, Mrs. F....
Albertson Public Library circa 1945
This painting by James Stoll shows the area surrounding the Albertson Public Library in 1945. West of the library are the Salvation...
Orlando Public Library Postcard - 1970s
Postcard of the 1966 Orlando Public Library taken from the southeast corner of Central Blvd. and Rosalind Avenue.
Library staff in the Patio Room.
Relaxing in Patio Room. July 1967
Orlando Public Library 1966 Exterior
Exterior view of the entrance to the Orlando Public Library on Rosalind Street looking south from Wall Street. The ramp in the...
Orlando Public Library 1966 Exterior Rosalind at Wall Street
This exterior view shows on the far left, the ramp leading to the entrance of the library on Rosalind Street and the...
Orlando Public Library 1966-1986
This is the ramp from Central along Rosalind Avenue to the front doors of the new 1966 Orlando Public Library. The entrance...
Orlando Public Library 1966-1986
This is the ramp from Central along Rosalind Avenue to the front doors of the new 1966 Orlando Public Library. The entrance...
Tech Services Department
The Technical Service Department of the Orange County Library System was located in an annex at 453 North Orange Avenue between Alexander...
Orlando Public Library Painting 1
Orlando Public Library Painting
Library Staff Members - 1990s #1
This was at the Kennedy Space Center. Have you ever heard about the summer initiative that Kennedy Space Center will offer...
Library Staff Members - 1990s #2
This was at the Kennedy Space Center. Have you ever heard about the summer initiative that Kennedy Space Center will offer...
New Library Reception
1st Floor, Lobby: Director Dorothy Field, Rich Gause, Carl Brown, Kathryn Robinson, Susan Zwer, Angela Jacobe, Eleanor Crawford, Angela Green
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day 2002
Books from the first floor collection packed in moving boxes ready to be moved to the 2nd floor to facilitate remodeling of...
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day 2002
Professional movers packing materials to move to temporary location to prepare for the remodeling of the first floor at the Orlando Public...
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day
Boxes and special dolleys used to move the boxes filled with books from the first floor to the 2nd floor to facilitate...
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day
Movers removing shelving to relocate it to the 2nd floor to facilitate remodeling of the area now called "Library Central" and "Club...
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day 2002
Staff member Angela Jacobe pitching in to help as the first floor collection was relocated to the 2nd floor to facilitate remodeling...
Orlando Public Library - Remodeling 1st Floor - Moving Day 2002
Special dolleys used to move the large boxes of books from the first floor to the 2nd floor to facilitate remodeling of...
Library Central Unveiling
Kris Woodson, Kelly Pepo, Lynette Schimpf, Sheri Chambers at the grand opening celebration for the newly remodeled Library Central in November 2003...
2nd Floor Ribbon Cutting
Grand opening of the renovated 2nd Floor with Library Director/CEO Mary Anne Hodel, Library Board members and mascot Squirt circa 2005.
Details, correspondence, facts and figures on how the Albertson Public Library came to be, how the furnishings were chosen and staff members hired.
https://orlandomemory.info/organizations/albertson-public-library-in-the-beginning/History of Library Service for Orange County 1923-1962.
This 1970 history of the Orange County Library System appears to have been created as part of a presentation as it is labeled as part II.
Library History timeline 1900-1991
Article published November 11, 1921, Front Page, Evening Reporter Star
November 11, 1921, Front Page, Evening Reporter Star
On November 12, 1921, the City Commissioners met and unanimously accepted Captain Albertson's offer to donate his collection to the people of Orlando.
On November 26, 1921, Captain Albertson and the Mayor of Orlando signed the agreement by which Captain Albertson would donate his library to the people of Orlando.
Open House booklet for the celebration of the 25th Anniversary.
Silver Anniversary of the Albertson Public Library
In February 1954 the Board published a proposal to expand the library to meet the current and future needs as the building was strained to the limits.
Library Directory Clara Wendel's statement regarding the need for additional space or a new building to meet the needs of the staff and public as the current library could not meet those needs any longer.
Article reprinted from Architectural Record, June 1967, entitled "Johansen's Orlando library: compatible colony of varied forms." The article includes elevations, floorplans, and interior views of the library that replaced the original Albertson's Public Library.
You will note from the exterior photos, that the entrance to the library was changed from Central Boulevard to Rosalind Avenue via a ramp into what is now the Children's Department. The elevation drawing on the third page shows Children's Library in the basement and the staff area sharing the roof with the mechanical room on top of the 2nd floor.
The rooftop patio on the last page was adjacent to what was the staff area on the third floor.
You can still get a glimpse of the old stairwells with the brass handlebars from the children's department.
Article on the Orlando Public Library brutalist architecture.
Brochure cover for the Dedication of the Orlando Public Library on August 7, 1966.
Brief History of Library Service for Orange County has details from 1923-1962 and, a lot of the information, deals with the bookmobile, traveling branch (also a bookmobile) and library stations.
History of the Library appears to have been created in 1970 as the last data mentioned is from 1969. It has a great history of the branches, including the bookmobiles, traveling branch, and the library stations.
April 1986 edition of the Central Florida Magazine.
Booklet produced in 1986 for the grand opening of the newly expanded library and the remodeling of the 1966 library.
Open House booklet for the celebration of the 75th Anniversary.
I love the library. Ever since I was a little girl I was a big library user. In the summer my mother would take me to the public library during summer vacation.
It is an essential part of our community.
Thank you for the library.
Greetings Patricia! Thank you for visiting Orlando Memory and sharing your kind words about the Orange County Library System. We hope you are enjoying our 100th Birthday and find other posts that bring back memories of days gone by. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM.
interesting to see ORlando library system over the years.
Greetings Candice! Thank you for visiting Orlando Memory during out 100th Anniversary Celebration! We hope you find additional posts that interest you and continue to share your comments! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM