The Webster Parish Library System has seen steadfast growth throughout the decades. What started out as a rented, converted car dealership building on South Broadway has transformed into a total of 7 branches with the main Minden branch totaling to 16,387 square feet along with an adjacent administrative building located in the center of downtown Minden.
Webster Parish Library, the fourth oldest system in the state, began in 1929 and owes its start largely to the Women’s Department Club. In 1925, Dr. Mary Mims arranged a meeting between club president, Mrs. Robert Baker, and the newly appointed Executive Secretary of Louisiana Library Commission, Miss Essae M. Culver. From that meeting the club’s first library committee was appointed for the purpose of obtaining signatures to petition the Webster Parish Police Jury to establish a parish library.
In 1928, the Rosenwald Foundation had begun a program to set up demonstration libraries on a trial basis. Miss Culver recommended that Webster Parish, because of its citizens’ interest and the parish’s excellent school system, be selected for one of these demonstrations. The Foundation agreed, and the demonstration was set up under supervision of the Louisiana Library Commission.
The parish police jury appointed a library Board of Control whose members consisted of J. J. Heflin, president of the policy jury; H. L. Bridges, mayor of Minden; E. S. Richardson, superintendent of schools; Marshal Pearce; R. L. Ensey; Mrs. Dan W. Stewart, Jr.; and Mrs. Robert Baker. On October 3rd of 1929 the Webster Parish Library opened its doors to the public for the very first time.
In June of 1937, the main branch in Minden was enlarged, and the newspaper invited people to come enjoy the coolness offered by the addition of three new electric fans. In 1954, an open house in celebration of the library’s first quarter century of operation was held and attended by people from all over the parish. The Webster Parish Library had come of age. Not only was it one of the first libraries in Louisiana, but also one of the best.
In 1993, parish citizens approved a construction bond to fund the building of a new library for Springhill and Minden, and renovations and improvements for the smaller branches. Once the new branch was completed in Springhill, bids were let out for the new main branch in Minden. The architectural firm used for this project was Richard LeBlanc Architects, Inc. and the interior designer was Denise Klibert. The new facility was built by the Finney Company and is located beside the old Ferguson home, which is now called the Stewart Center. The new main branch was completed in 1997 and has 16,387 square feet of heated space.
The Webster Parish Library System has been honored by the receipt of three Modisette Awards, and to this day continues to serve all within the parish by offering a wide array of services and materials.
From within the Minden Main Branch, patrons can access books, audiobooks, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, equipment such as projectors and microfilm readers, historic newspapers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and much more. Please call or visit our website for more information.
In August 1963, Webster Parish was given property and money for a new library facility. The "old Ferguson Home" was given as a gift from Miss F. Dell Brown. The property, located at the corner of Elm Street and East & West Street, was deeded to the parish under terms of the will of the late Mrs. Edmond L. Stewart, sister of Miss Brown. Also included was a gift of $10,000 to be used for remodeling the Minden Main Branch Library building to meet the Library's needs. Renovation plans were drawn up by the Van Os & Flaxman architectural firm. The home, which had 12 rooms and a large amount of basement storage space, is believed to have originally cost $60,000 when it was constructed in 1920 and 1921. The architect's drawings were dated December 1919. Mr. Edmond Stewart purchased the home in 1944 and later added a fallout shelter and an elevator believed to be the only elevator located in a home at that time. The home was deeded in 1963 to the Webster Parish Police Jury for the exclusive use of the parish library. Renovations to the home exceeded $17,000, and the Library moved into the facility in December 1964. Included in the items to be moved were 17,412 books from the Minden branch, 4,360 books from the parish headquarters, 300 recordings, back issues of National Geographic Magazine since 1923, and bound copies of local newspapers since September 28, 1929. In 1980, the 65-year-old home being used as the Webster Parish Library received approval as a national historic site from the Louisiana State Review Committee for the National Register of Historic Places. In 2006, the Library sold limited tax bonds to fund the renovation of the Ferguson home for a headquarters building. The newly renovated building was reopened in 2009 as the Stewart Center, which houses the administrative offices, all the receiving and technical processing department, and some spaces that can be utilized by the public for free during normal business hours and for a fee after hours. Call for more information and availability.
The Cotton Valley Library branch was originally located in Mr. J. L. McClellan’s hardware store before it closed in 1930. In 1930, the branch was relocated to the first floor of the local grammar school in August of 1930. At the time, Mrs. Clyde Smith was the branch manager.
In 1950, the school system and libraries separated. Cotton Valley opened the doors to its new location on June 26, 1950 through the cooperation of the Cotton Valley Improvement Association and the Cotton Valley Town Council. In 1955, Cotton Valley residents voiced their desire for a new facility.
In August of 1957, the Cotton Valley branch was relocated to Main Street in ‘Dr. John Pugh’s Building’ near what was the People’s Bank and Trust Company. It was a brick structure that had been completely remodeled and equipped with library facilities.
On May 25, 1959, the Cotton Valley library began operating five days a week from 1PM to 5PM.
In 2009, the old Barksdale Federal Credit Union, a nine year-old building the size of roughly 1,200 square foot, was purchased in hopes of moving the library branch from its location on Main Street to Highway 371 because the current location for the library was deteriorating and becoming uninhabitable. Renovation plans were created for the new location and the newly renovated library opened to the public in 2010.
This branch offers a wide variety of materials and services such as books, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, Wi-Fi hotspots, and much more. Call for more information and availability.
The original Doyline Branch of the Webster Parish Library was previously located inside of the local Doyline school system. In December of 1936, a new library in addition to the school library was opened in the Jenkins community located within the Town of Doyline but closed sometime before 1956.
During the summer of 1938 when the school was closed, the library was moved to the Cawthon store of Doyline for the summer.
In 1958, the Doyline Branch relocated to a new location that was owned by Pete Kalpakis of Minden. The location had asphalt tile flooring and air conditioning.
In March of 1980, a building was acquired by the Webster Parish Police Jury from the Cal-Packus estate with plans of renovation. Additional space within the structure was dedicated to the Town of Doyline to be used as a voting precinct. It was stated that the capability for the structure to be used to serve a dual purpose was one of the deciding factors in acquiring the facility.
In 1995, the building went through a major remodel and opened to the public in July of 1995. Several projects have been carried out throughout the years to maintain this location.
This branch offers a wide variety of materials and services such as books, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, Wi-Fi hotspots, and much more. Call for more information and availability.
In 1930, the Heflin Branch first opened in the hallway of the teacherage with a teacher from the Heflin High School in charge. During the summer months, the library was moved to another location on campus referred to as the agricultural building.
In 1994, the library system began renting a building to house the Heflin Library for $25 a month up to $100 a month provided the library agreed to renovate the building as requested.
On October 31, 2000, Mary Helen Reeves Beatty signed papers donating the Heflin Library building to the Police Jury. Beatty and her sister Alice Reeves Rugg owned the building, which was used as a library, since it was built.
On August 4, 2011, the branch had to temporarily close due to air conditioning units burning out and causing a major water leak in the process. The branch reopened to the public on December 16, 2011.
In 2015, the branch went through a major renovation project that included interior and exterior painting, floor leveling, and adding additional shelving units. A new metal roof was also installed.
This branch offers a wide variety of materials and services such as books, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, and much more. Call for more information and availability.
The original Sarepta Branch was located a short distance from Sarepta inside of the high school. It was established in November of 1929 under the guidance of Miss Mary Harris, the parish librarian. During some summer months, the library was moved to Mr. Coyle’s building, which was formerly the office of the Justice of Peace.
Between 1938 and 1963, the branch moved to a location on Main Street in what was at that time “bustling downtown” Sarepta.
On October 28, 1963, the library branch moved to another location in the area known as the “Town Square”. It was located inside of a shopping center and housed inside of what was known as the Sarepta Municipal Building. The Shreveport Municipal Building also housed a city office and a public meeting hall equipped with a kitchen.
In 2002, the branch relocated to 24522 Hwy. 371 in the former Methodist church building. On August 18, 2002, the Sarepta branch held its grand opening. The Webster Parish Police Jury completed the parking area and the funds to pay for materials were split between the Library and the Town of Sarepta. Since 2002, the library building has been maintained to its existing state with the addition of landscaping, updated fixtures, and a repainted interior.
This branch offers a wide variety of materials and services such as books, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, and much more. Call for more information and availability.
The Sibley Branch Library was first referred to as the Sibley Community Library. It was located within the local school, and during the summer months, was moved to the Fogle building next to the post office. In August of 1950, the Sibley branch moved to a new location following the school system's separation of libraries. In 1958, the library building went through a renovation to be enlarged and repainted. An open house after the renovation was held in May of 1958. This library branch closed completely sometime between October of 1977 and August of 1978. It remained closed until 2006. In 2006, the library branch reopened at what is now its current location. It is located in the former police station on Fourth Street, right behind Hay's Friendly Grocery and Market, Inc. The branch went through a major remodel before being occupied by the Library. It opened to the public on May 8, 2006, and a grand opening was hosted on May 12, 2006.
This branch offers a wide variety of materials and services such as books, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, Wi-Fi hotspots, and much more. Call for more information and availability.
When the Webster Parish Library System was first established in 1929, its branches were located within schools and the books were moved to various locations when the schools closed during the summer months. Most of the summers from 1930-1936, the library was located at the Pine Woods Commissary. In 1934, the Springhill branch was moved to the formerly occupied Russel’s Pharmacy which was located next door to Payne’s Pressing Shop.
On August 11, 1947, the Library Board of Control voted to lease the ground floor of the new Masonic building, located at 231 Main, for $75 per month and the new library opened in June of 1948.
In February, 1970, the library moved again to the former Shurtleff’s Sewing Center, located at 223 Main where it remained until the opening of the Mack Memorial Branch, at 217 N. Main, in March of 1995. The Mack family of Springhill donated the old Dollar General Store building for the new library, thereby increasing the square footage from 2,400 to 8,000 square feet.
When long-time Springhill board member Eugene Eason passed away in 2007, it was discovered that he had purchased the building next door to the Mack Memorial library and requested his family donate it to the parish for future library expansion.
In 2014, the funding for a new Springhill branch was dedicated in order to sustain the increasing amount of patron foot traffic the branch was continuously receiving. Under the guidance of the Library Director Beverly Hammett, the Webster Parish Library began the process of relocating to the old Walgreens building off of the main highway that ventures through Springhill.
On March 25, 2018, the new location for the Mack Memorial Library at 1000 S. Arkansas Street opened its doors to the public.
The newly renovated building features an atmosphere of creativity and inspiration with little bits of the town history influencing the design. In fact, special lit display cases are being installed to showcase town artifacts. It is not your “traditional” library. This branch offers a wide variety of services and materials including, but not limited to: books, audiobooks, magazines, blu-rays and DVDs, Wi-Fi, Laptops, Computers, Printers and Fax Machines, equipment such as projectors and microfilm readers, historic newspapers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and much more. Please call or visit our website for more information.
