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.
In the summer of 2015 the Alpharetta library moved from its old location at 238 Canton Street to its expansive new location at 10 Park Plaza Alpharetta, GA. At 25,000 square-feet, the library is part of the new Alpharetta City Center development and hosts a 150-seat auditorium.