"On February 25, 1907, the Fulton Women’s Club met at the home of Mrs. J. K.
Smith. The program for the day included a “most interesting lecture” presented
by Professor Willis Kerr of Westminster College. The Professor’s topic was
“Books.” It must have been an inspiring speech, because one of the club ladies
immediately made a motion to “consider the matter of forming a public library.”
The motion carried, launching the Fulton Women’s Club on a major project, which
culminated only four years later with the erection of the present library
building. Such impressive results in a short period of time were possible only
because the whole community became involved in the planning, hard work, and
excitement of the “library movement.”
The library first opened on July 2, 1908, in two rooms at the northeast
corner of the Odd Fellows Building. While the library flourished in these
temporary quarters, the Library Association, led by Mrs. D. R. Kerr, Mrs. W. Ed
Jameson, and Judge D. H. Harris, continued to campaign for a permanent library
building.
They knew there was a possibility of receiving the donation of a building
from Andrew Carnegie if public support could be assured. In order to gain that
support, a library tax proposal was placed on the April 1910 ballot. When the
tax passed, correspondence with Mr. Carnegie began immediately. In April 1911,
he made an offer to provide $12,000 for a library building if the city would
“agree by resolution of council to maintain a free public library at a cost of
not less than $1,200 per year, and provide a suitable site for the building.”
The city council moved quickly to meet Mr. Carnegie’s requirements. A special
election was held May 24. The $4,000 bond issue, which passed with a vote of 280
to 11, provided funds to buy a lot at 709 Market Street. Local architect M. F.
Bell, working with Carnegie’s New York representative, soon completed plans for
the new building. In September 1911, W. R. Odor was awarded the building
contract.
The cornerstone was laid on November 2, 1911, and the library moved into the
completed building in July 1912. The library continued to grow with the strong
support of many active community clubs. For example, in 1917, the Music Club led
a movement to have a wooden floor installed over the cement in the basement
meeting room. Eventually, several clubs joined together to pay $61.50 for a new
wood floor and stage installed by W. B. Williamson.
Although the library started with less than 500 books, by 1931 the collection
had grown to include 8,080. Through the years, this growth continued, and many
changes were made to the building’s interior to accommodate the increased number
of books and library users." ~
History of Callaway County Library
The building was expanded substantially in 1984.