Sammy Brown Lirbrary - Carthage, TX
Posted by: 
rilekyle
N 32° 09.483 W 094° 20.832
15S E 372963 N 3558749
City library operated by a local non-profit organization for the benefit of the community.
Waymark Code: WMC0VG
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/11/2011
Views: 5
In 1948, a group of women formed a service group called the Carthage Junior League. The Junior Service League wanted to improve the quality of life in their community by providing a library. Starting in 1958, these thirteen dedicated women raised over $10,000 through tireless effort and fundraisers and were finally able to purchase and open the Service League Library on a permanent basis in 1963.
The original Carthage telephone office was purchased by the Carthage Service League from the Chamber of Commerce at a price of $1,000, and in 1961 was moved onto the lot where it still stands today.
The original building covered 1,200 square feet and housed 4,000 books. After two additions and many improvements, the library is now almost 12,000 square feet and houses over 49,000 titles.
Most of the growth is attributed to the many generous donations from within the community. The most noteworthy contributor was the late Sammy Matthews Brown, a local businesswoman who generously gave both her time and money to make our library the success it is today. In 1991, before the death of Mrs. Brown in 1996, the members of the Carthage Service League unanimously agreed to rename the library in her honor.
Today, the Carthage Service League is still an intricate part of the library and its members play a vital part in the success of our library. Proceeds from the Service League Thrift Shop, located on the square in Carthage, directly benefit the Sammy Brown Library.
The cost of operating the library has increased over the years to the point where Panola County and the City of Carthage provide the majority of the funding needed to operate on a daily basis.
Classification of Library: Public Library (Open to all)
Internet access available: Yes - Library Terminal: Register with Library Clerk to use
Additional Internet Connection Options:
no
Hours of Operation:
M - F: 9a - 6p
Sat: 9a - 1p
Sun: Closed
Approximate date of opening.: 07/01/1961
Library Website: [Web Link]
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