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.