LIBRARY HISTORY
In its 35 years of operation, the
Alpharetta Branch Library has grown from a collection of
approximately 7,000 books to 80,000 books and currently
ranks third in usage among the 35 branches in the
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.
Library service in Alpharetta began as a deposit
collection serviced by a station wagon and open to the
public once a week.
In 1964 the Alpharetta Women's Club organized a
campaign to bring a permanent facility to Alpharetta.
Additional community organizations joined the mayor and
city council in this campaign. The City of Alpharetta
provided utilities and rent-free space in the municipal
building and the Atlanta Public Library provided
materials, equipment, and initial staffing. The branch
opened June 1, 1966.
By 1977 the collection had grown to approximately
10,000 volumes and Leona Bolch was appointed branch
manager. Ms. Bolch recalls: "Alpharetta was still a
small town and the surrounding community was made up of
farms. Many patrons rode their horses to the library and
tied them to a hitching post while they selected books."
Early in 1986 because of renovations to the municipal
building, the branch was moved to a shopping center to
await the construction of a new facility that was to be
built with bond funds approved by voters the previous
year. In the fall of 1989 the present facility opened to
the public and circulation doubled the first year.
The Alpharetta Branch Library continues to grow in
usage, in staff, and in its collections, providing the
highest quality of service to the
community.
FOTAL Position Paper on Location Choice for New Alpharetta Library
While not supporting one particular location over another for the site of the new library, the Directors of the Friends of the Alpharetta Library (FOTAL) have put forth this position paper concerning what we feel to be important criteria needed to be considered in order to choose the most appropriate location for the proposed new library.
The Friends of the Alpharetta Library (FOTAL) organization unanimously supports the following recommendations concerning the location of the new library proposed to be built in Alpharetta. ?The Friends of the Alpharetta Library believe that the library is a cornerstone of our community and that its ultimate location should be one that contributes to the vibrancy of Alpharetta. It is our position that for this to be accomplished the future location of the new Alpharetta branch must offer certain characteristics:
- The library's location must be a pedestrian-friendly location that is within the Downtown Alpharetta business district; defined as being bordered to the south by Old Milton Parkway, to the east by Haynes Bridge Road, to the north by Mayfield Road, and to the west by Wills Road.
- The site should be either located west of State Route 9 / Main Street or be located in close proximity to State Route 9 / Main Street so as to best serve patrons in those areas of the community who would otherwise be underserved by other system libraries due to their location east of that highway corridor.
- The location should not be isolated from surrounding neighborhoods, schools and businesses, should not totally require patrons to travel by car in order to enjoy the library, and should benefit from multiple access roads; thus, the library would contribute to the functionality of community infrastructure.
- The library should be located in such a manner as to add value to and benefit from surrounding properties and nearby developments.
- The site must have adequate parking that is safe and convenient. To avoid negative impacts on nearby residential properties, the site would ideally be able to leverage shared parking with proximate businesses and public facilities.
- The facility and site should be environmentally sound and require a minimum of grounds maintenance; thus, allowing for maximum focus of finances on delivery of library services to the public.
FOTAL maintains that only through a location that meets these criteria can the Atlanta Fulton County Library Board truly meet the needs of the community and citizens to be served by the new Alpharetta Branch.
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO VOICE YOUR OPINION
Email Liz Hausmann
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