A Timeline of JPL History

(For a brief history of the library before October 3, 1903, click here.)

1903

• On October 3, 1903, ground was broken for the Carnegie library on the northeast corner of Adams and Ocean.

1905

• June 1: The Jacksonville Free Public Library opened as the first tax supported library in Florida. Located at 101 East Adams Street, the building was financed through a $50,000 Carnegie Grant. All items in the collection on opening day come from donations by private individuals.
• George B. Utley is the first Librarian.

1910

• George B. Utley resigns from position as Librarian to become Secretary for the American Library Association. Joseph Wheeler is appointed Librarian.

1911

• Joseph Wheeler resigns position; Lloyd W. Josselyn is appointed Librarian.

1919

• Lloyd W. Josselyn resigns from position as Librarian.

1920

• Joseph F. Marron becomes Chief Librarian of the Jacksonville Free Public Library.

ca.1923

• Jacksonville Free Public Library changes name to Jacksonville Public Library.

1927

• November 14: Wilder Park Library opened as first branch unit at Lee and Third Streets.

1928

• October 30: Jacksonville initiated the first bookmobile service in Florida.

1930

• January 2: Willowbranch Branch dedicated at 2875 Park Street.

1930

• Springfield Branch is opened.

1932

• January 1: Southside Library at 1450 Home Street designated a branch of the Jacksonville Public Library when City of Jacksonville annexed South Jacksonville.

1941

• March 6: Northeast Branch opened at 2100 Franklin Street.

1950

• January 3: Southside Branch moved to a new building at 1565 Hendricks Avenue.

1956

• June 14: The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library is formed with the intent of inspiring interest in libraries. It is credited as a major influence in bringing about an increased budget.

1959

• Joseph F. Marron retires from position as Chief Librarian.
• Harry Brinton becomes the first Director of the Jacksonville Public Library System.

1959

• December 18: Westbrook Branch opened at 2809 Commonwealth Avenue.

1961

• May 25: Northside Branch, replacing Springfield Branch, dedicated in remodeled Brentwood Theatre Building at 3725 Pearl Street.

1961

• October 12: Eastside Branch dedicated at 1390 Harrison Street.

1965

• June 12: Myrtle Avenue Branch opened at 2304 North Myrtle Avenue replacing Wilder Park Branch.
• November 29: Haydon Burns Public Library opened at 122 North Ocean Street, becoming the new Main Library.
  With the increased space at the new Main Library, the Business & Science Documents and Arts & Music collections are created.
  The old Main Library remains accessible to the public, now known as the Bedell Building. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

1966

• The Florida Collection is greatly enhanced by acquiring the Floridiana Collection of Dr. Webster Merritt, as a gift from the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library.

1968

• October 1: Free library service offered to all Duval County residents under Consolidation of Jacksonville (the union of the governments of both Jacksonville and Duval County).

1969

• December 18: Murray Hill Branch opened at 918 Edgewood Avenue South.

1969

• October 1: Jacksonville Public Library assumed operation of Jacksonville Beach Library as a service of the new Consolidated Government.

1970

• May 26: Northeast Branch phased out.

1973

• January 25: Regency Square Branch opened at 9900 Regency Square Boulevard.

1975

• June: The Talking Books Library begins operation.

1977

• June 26: Myrtle Avenue Branch renamed Dallas James Graham Branch.

1979

• November 19: Charles D. Webb Wesconnett Branch opened at 6887 103rd Street.

1983

• Jacksonville Public Library System adopts the new name of Jacksonville Public Libraries.
• Director Harry Brinton retires from Jacksonville Public Libraries.

1984

• The Main Library becomes one of the first libraries in the country to begin working with a computer-based circulation system by testing JIM (Jacksonville Information Machine), a system created by the Burroughs Corporation (later to be known as UNISYS).
• James Nelson becomes Director.
• January 1: The Jacksonville Public Library system establishes an online catalog accessible to the public, phasing out the card catalog. Internet access is available through FIRN, the Florida Information Resources Network. The name JAXCAT (Jacksonville Catalog) is adopted.
• Later in the year, Judith Williams, who started in the JPL system in 1971, replaces James Nelson as Director of Jacksonville Public Libraries.

1985

• October 24: Highlands Branch opened at 1826 Dunn Avenue. It is the first automated branch in the system. All branches opening after Highlands also operate with the Burroughs software (JAXCAT).

1986

• The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, Inc. is formed. Its mission is to provide the resources that enhance and enrich the Jacksonville Public Library. It encourages investments in the future of our library through various opportunities, such as donations, grants, and planned programs and events.
• May 20: Beaches Branch opened at 600 Third Street replacing the Jacksonville Beach Library.
• June 17: Mandarin Branch opened at 3330 Kori Road.

1991

• March 18: Bradham-Brooks Northwest Branch opened at 1755 Edgewood Avenue West. Building dedicated in memory of Etta Brooks and Olga Bradham. The Talking Books Library moves to the Northwest Branch.

1992

• February 9: Northside Branch renamed Brentwood Branch.
• October 27: Southside Branch renamed San Marco Branch.

1993

• February 1: The Library switches from the former Burroughs software to a new circulation system. DRA is the library's first catalog available to the public via the World Wide Web. Customers are able to view checkouts, fees, and fines online. Ability to place holds and renew items via the Internet is implemented shortly thereafter.

1994

• October 18: Eastside Branch renamed the Raiford A. Brown, Sr. Eastside Branch Library.

1995

• August 22: Northwest Branch is renamed the Bradham.Brooks Northwest Branch Library.

1996

• August: Director Judith Williams retires after 25 years in the Jacksonville Public Libraries system. Sylvia Cornell is appointed Acting Director.

1997

• Library installs first personal computers for public use.
• May 31: Willowbranch Branch reopened after historic preservation and building addition.
• June: Kenneth G. Sivulich becomes Director of Jacksonville Public Libraries. Changes name of the system to Jacksonville Public Library to reflect the library's organization as a central unit with branches.
• October 25: Southeast Branch opens at 10599 Deerwood Park Boulevard.

1999

• May 22: Regency Square Branch reopened after expansion and renovation at 9900 Regency Square Boulevard.

2000

• September 5:Jacksonville residents voted to approve The Better Jacksonville Plan, including funds for a new main library to be completed by 2004, six new branch locations to be completed by 2005, and improvements to most existing library locations.

2001

• December 20: Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney declared Robert A.M. Stern, Architect, the designer of Jacksonville's new Main Library.

2002

• December 16: Ground is broken for Jacksonville's new Main Library at 202 N Laura St.

2003

• April 19: San Marco Branch reopened after extensive expansion and renovation at 1513 LaSalle Street.
• December 11: Jacksonville Public Library switches from using the DRA Circulation Software to the Unicorn Workflows system run by SIRSI Corporation.
• Beginning late 2003, Self-check machines can be used at limited locations, beginning with the Regency Square Regional Library.

2004

• February 12: Kenneth Sivulich retired as Director of the Jacksonville Public Library.
• February 17: Deputy Director Carolyn S. Williams is appointed Acting Director.
• April 17: Murray Hill Branch reopened after renovation at 918 Edgewood Avenue South. The Library's first wireless Internet zone is available at Murray Hill Branch. More locations are planned.
• August 5: The library acquires a set of electronic books known as the Digital Book Collection from Baker & Taylor, a book supplier. Prior to this, the library had acquired the set supplied by OCLC's NetLibrary service.
• October 9: University Park Branch opens at 3435 University Blvd North. It is the first new branch completed as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan. It is the first branch to open with self-checkout service. All later branches, with the exception of Maxville, open with this feature.
• October 23: Pablo Creek Regional opens at 13295 Beach Blvd. It is the second new branch completed as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan.
• November: The Xerox/Pharos Computer Access Management (CAM) System is implemented at all JPL locations to ensure equitable access to public computer resources.

2005

• January 1: Barbara A.B. Gubbin becomes the Director of Jacksonville Public Library.
• March 26: Argyle Branch opened at 7973 Old Middleburg Rd S. It is the third new branch completed as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan and has Wireless Internet Access. The 12,000-square-foot library features more than 35 computers, a self-service checkout, a multi-purpose room for 50 people and separate adult, teen and children's areas.
• By this time, wireless Internet zones are available at Pablo Creek Regional and University Park Branch.
• April 30: Charles D. Webb-Wesconnett Regional reopened after extensive renovation at 6887 103rd Street. Wireless Internet Access is available, as are self-checkout machines
• June 1: As part of the Xerox/Pharos Computer Access Management (CAM) System, JPL institutes pay-for-printing at all locations. Customers are allowed five free pages per day; each additional page incurs a nominal fee.
• June 18: South Mandarin Regional opened at 12125 San Jose Blvd. The 25,000-square-foot building is the fourth new branch completed as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan and has Wireless Internet Access.
  Features: Two meeting rooms flanking the entrance foyer, one for 100 people with a moveable wall to split it in two; an electronic classroom with 12 computerg; separate children's and teen sections; four study and tutoring rooms; 30 public computers with Internet access.
• July 9: Highlands Regional reopened. As one of the renovated branches to open as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan, service now includes Wireless Internet Access, as well as self-checkout machines. The branch is now nearly 9,000 sq.ft. larger and also has a teen space, a preschool area with storyhour nook, and two study rooms.
• July 23: Maxville Branch opened. It is the fifth of the new branches to open as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan. Wireless Internet Access is available.
• August 27: West Regional opened. It is the last of the new branches to open as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan. Wireless Internet Access is available, as well as self-checkout machines. At nearly 50,000 sq.ft., this newest addition to the branch system is the third largest library, behind the Main Library (over 300,000 sq.ft.) and Southeast Branch (54,000 sq.ft.). The branch also has a CAL classroom, electronic classroom, teen room, and children's activities room and puppet theater.
• August 29: Southeast Regional re-opened after extensive renovation and expansion. It is the last of the renovated branches to open as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan. Wireless Internet Access is available, as are self-checkout machines. Southeast is now 12,000 sq.ft. larger and also has a Center for Adult Learning classroom, teen room, a preschool area with storyhour nook, and additional study and conference rooms.
• September 3: In anticipation of moving to the new Main Library, the Haydon Burns Library closes its doors for the last time. Only skeletal staff remain to assist in transporting materials. Although the building is closed to the public, technical services staff remain until they can be relocated to the new Technical Services Unit at the University Park Library.
• October 31: Due to decreasing circulation and budgetary issues, Bookmobile service is discontinued.
• November 12: The new Main Library, located at 303 N Laura St, opens its doors for the first time, during a week of festivities and planned events. It is the final library building to be constructed under the Better Jacksonville Plan. Wireless Internet Access is available, as are self-checkout machines. The Main Library is over 300,000 sq. ft in size and is the largest public library building in the state.
  Features: Center for Adult Learning headquarters and classrooms, the Talking Books Library, a spacious teen room, a beautiful Children's Area, a floor dedicated to Special Collections such as the new Morris Ansbacher Map Collection and the African-American Collection, an auditorium and a multipurpse room, an open-air courtyard, café, and bookstore.

2006

• February 1: Support Services moves from Haydon Burns to the University Park location. With this move, the old Main Library shutters its doors for good.
• April 28: By this time, all JPL locations are equipped to provide Wireless Internet Access to library Customers .
• June 12: The library begins participating in the statewide Ask a Librarian chat and email reference network.
• August 26: A federated search engine of the library's databases - Central Search - becomes available. It is available for both in-library and home use.
• November 13: A new service, the OverDrive Digital Library Collection is made available. Customers are able to download audiobooks to their PCs and portable devices.
• December 7: The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, having already opened the BOOKtique bookstore in the Main Library, establish an online version of the store.

2007

• January 9: Construction begins on the Shelby's cafe in the Main Library.
• January 10: The library launches a web-based survey called "Counting Opinions" to elicit feedback from the public regarding its services and impact on the community.
• January 12: JPL offers an electronic newsletter via the NextReads service. The service is supported by the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library. Customers are able to receive emails listing upcoming publications as well as brief news on the library.
• March 12: West Regional Library begins “Drive Up Window” service. Customers are able to return items, renew current checkouts, and pick up reserves available for checkout.
• May 14: Shelby's Cafe begins service in the Main Library.