Key West Library Celebrates 65 Years With Free Concert And Party On November 20
In November 1959, the Key West Library opened at 700 Fleming Street – the first in the new Monroe County Public Library system.
The Library will celebrate its birthday at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, with an event including a concert and refreshments in the Palm Garden. This event is free and open to the public; you do not need to have a Library card to attend.
Public libraries in the Keys go back to 1892, when a library association was formed and a library was operated in several locations by different groups, including the Key West Woman’s Club. In the 1950s, Karl Thompson donated the land on Fleming Street and Monroe County agreed to run the library system.
Since the Key West Library opened in 1959, Monroe County has added branches in Key Largo, Marathon, Islamorada and Big Pine Key – as well as two Lending Machines on Stock Island and Key Largo. Key West remains the busiest branch and operates in the same building, which has been expanded several times. It is also home to the Florida Keys History Center, the island chain’s premiere archive of documents and images. In 2016, the Library was named a Literary Landmark, honoring its role in the founding of the Key West Literary Seminar.
At the birthday celebration, the Libby York Quartet will perform a free jazz concert. Dr. Corey Malcom, lead historian at the Florida Keys History Center, will speak about the history and importance of the public library.