Old Newkirk Public Library Building 109 West Seventh Street Newkirk OK  74647 (580) 362-3934

 

 

 

 

 

Text Reprinted from Carved in Stone by Karen Dye

     Newkirk's Public Library grew through the vision of a women's group named the Newkirk Study Club.  In 1905 these women donated twenty-six volumes which became the nucleus of the Library.  The Pioneer Drug Store was the first home of the Library.  Through the years it moved to the Old Rouse Building to Jackson's Pharmacy to Mrs. Garside's photography studio. 

     In July 1920 the Newkirk city commissioners voted an appropriation of $600 for maintaining a free city Library.  On November 3, 1920 the Study Club officially turned the Library over to the City of Newkirk.  At this time there were 1,500 volumes in the collection.

     A Library Board was appointed by the mayor.  Mrs. H. M. Deaver was president and Mrs. H. T. Garside was secretary.  Mrs. J. L. Roberson accepted the position of librarian for the year.  The Library was open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m. 

     During some point in time after 1920 the Library was moved to the second floor of the City Building and remained there until January of 1959 when it was moved to the main floor on the West side of the city building.  At this time the library walls were painted green and the shelving and furniture were painted brown.  Three stoves were installed to heat the room.  It was hoped that more people would use the library facilities with its location on the first floor.  Thelma Maupin was the librarian at this time and the library owned 8,000 books. 

     In 1993 the Library's collection had grown to 20,612 volumes.  Sandra Cline was the Librarian and the Board consisted of Chairman Linnae Colson, Vice Chairman Dorothy Midgley, Sectetary Doris Porter, and Members Jolene Waltrip and Kathie Hartley.  Sandra Cline retired in June of 2001 and Carol Kaspar was hired as the Library Director.