About Us

By ANNE WINCHESTER Democrat News Staff

The Rector Public Library is a place to increase knowledge and can be a welcome retreat from the hussle-bussle of the workday world. It has long been an important part of the town, continuously growing to meet the needs of the community.

In 1934, Mrs. O.A. Lynch, who was president of the Woman's Club, developed the idea for a public library. In December of that year, a committee was appointed to plan for book collections. Members were Mrs. Gertrude Parrish, chairman, Mrs. O.L. Dalton, Mrs. C.T. Henry and Mrs. Avis Seely. The committee members went door-to-door, resulting in 250 books being donated.

The first library was located in the Legion Hut. Lawrence Elsass, who represented the legion, offered a room in the building. The first librarian was Mrs. John H. Hinemon, and the library officially opened with a formal tea on Feb. 1, 1935.

Operations of the library were turned over to a board of directors appointed by Mrs. Parrish and Mrs. Lynch with O.T. Ward serving as chairman.

Evelyn Horton was named librarian on Oct. 26, 1936, unanimously approved by the board.

Maude O. McBride became the chairman of the library committee, replacing Mrs. Parrish in early January 1937. Mrs. Seely, who was by then Woman's Club president, and Mr. Ward discussed reducing the number of board members "in order to expedite handling of business."

Dr. Roy S. Bucy, American Legion commander and board member, suggested the authority be entirely vested in the Woman's Club, which was made official on Jan. 21, 1937.

Mrs. McBride was named board chairman and Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Lawrence Elsass were members. Mrs. Seely and Mrs. Dalton were "courtesy members by virtue of executive positions in the Woman's Club."

The need for additional space for the Rector library was reflected in the July 31, 1944, board minutes. At this time the city council offered to the library board the old commissary building on North Main Street. It was inspected and found it could be made usable with repairs and new decorations amounting to the sum of $160 as estimated by Mr. J.N. Ladyman.

That year the library moved into the commissary. The event was celebrated with an open house held on Sept. 26, 1944. At that time, Mrs. Randleman was acting librarian.

On Aug. 5, 1947, the Rector City Council approved an ordinance to authorize the city to assume responsibility for library operations and management. H.L. Alstadt was mayor, and Luther King was recorder.

In 1952 Mayor Frets appointed Clarence Rust and Guy Bucy to serve as the helping committee to the library board to draw plans for the addition and estimate project costs. A "Lights on for the Library" drive began in November to raise funding for expansion.

Clay County began making $100 donations from 1949 to 1952, increasing to $200 annually from 1953 to 1956, to $300 from 1957 to 1958 and to $500 by 1959.

State Representative Jack Hurst of Rector planned, through state legislation, "whereby we could vote a small voluntary tax for library support" (December 1952 board minutes).

On Feb. 23, 1953, 92 books were received from the state, and donations rolled in from the community.

In 1953, the front section of the library was extended, 20 feet by 20 feet. Construction began that year with Bert Sigsby as supervisor. The estimated cost of the project was $3,000.

The library continued to grow and, by 1954, the board (Mrs. Randleman, Mrs. Dan McBride, and Sigsby) reported 14,177 books were circulated by 1,381 patrons.

By 1960, an effort was underway to form a countywide library board, appointed by County Judge Frank Carpenter, with which to campaign for a countywide one-mill library tax vote. Petitions were distributed, and 100 signatures were collected, and the issue was placed on the November ballot. Voting carried in the eastern district but failed in the west.

Consolidation of the Clay and Greene county library systems was the issue in 1962, the purpose being to obtain a bookmobile under a two-year federally supported demonstration program. That same year Clay County voters approved a one-mill tax by a vote of 1,221 to 955.

The Rector Library expanded again with additions constructed to the back in 1960 and to the side in 1975.

The library moved to its current location, the former IGA supermarket building, on West Fourth in 1997. The Historical Room was dedicated in honor of Mrs. Randleman the same year. It now contains many historical items and photographs pertaining to Rector's history as well as housing several genealogical reference materials.

Technology has come to the library in the form of bar-coded library cards, computers, Internet access, and the facility's own web page —www.rectorlibrary.com — designed by Kyle Johnson, son of Piggott librarian Gay Johnson.

Plans are now underway at the library to convert a storage room into the Rector Historical Museum to house items from the area's history and to enhance the facility itself.

Librarians throughout the years, according to Library history: Mrs. John H. Hinemon, 1935, and 1945-1948, Mrs. Evelyn Horton, 1936, Mrs. Pearl Baker, 1939, Mrs. Florence Holifield, 1943, and Mrs. Evert Randleman, 1944-1990, and Geraldine Wagster, 1991-2002.

The present director of the library is Deana Mills. Mrs. Mills started working in the library in 1996. She took over as director when Mrs. Geraldine Wagster retired in 2002.