One of Oxford’s most well-known and beloved public institutions turns 80 years old this week and the whole community is invited to the party.
From Dec. 12 through 18, the Oxford Public Library is celebrating eight decades of serving, informing, inspiring, educating and entertaining generations of residents.
Commemorative pens, special activities in the children’s and teen departments and amnesty coupons for overdue library books returned this week are all part of the week-long festivities, culminating with a big anniversary bash Sunday, Dec. 18 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend the party which will include live musical acts, special gifts in each department, refreshments and ‘Baffling Bill? peforming his magic act for the kiddies in the Rotary Community Room.
‘It’s really a celebration of the community and its support of library service. Its acknowledge of the important role a library plays in a growing community.,? said Director Judy Doublestein, who’s worked at the library for more than 20 years.
‘We’re recognizing 80 years of leadership, current and past (library) board members, 80 years of staffing, 80 years of community support,? she said.
Everyone ‘who played a role in the (library’s) development? will be recognized, from the Oxford Public Library Friends and Rotary Club of Oxford to the library board members who ‘give of their time? and ‘serve without compensation.?
The library’s history began when Nellie Slayton, who passed away in 1901, donated a vacant lot on Hovey Street to the Christian Church. When the church disbanded, money from the sale of the lot was set aside for the purchase of a library building at such time as the library became tax supported.
In 1925, the Christian Slayton Public Library was established in the McVay Building, which is now the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center.
Volunteers operated the library until 1927 when Oxford Township residents voted to maintain the institution. A library board was created to oversee it.
In July 1939, the library moved into a white colonial farmhouse on Mechanic Street built around 1847 by Daniel Butterfield. It’s believed to be the first house constructed in Oxford and many villagers consider it an historic landmark.
The library moved into the Civic Center Complex on W. Burdick Street in 1967 and was renamed the Oxford Public Library. It remained there between the township and village offices for next 30 years.
Seeing the need for a larger, modern library to serving the rapidly growing community, Oxford voters approved a $4.2 million bond issue in November 1995 to construct a 23,400-square-foot library on Pontiac Street.
The library we know today officially opened in December 1997. It continues to grow with the community as evidenced by the 2,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the library’s Teen and Adult Technology areas.
Doublestein described the $350,000 project as ‘gorgeous? and said, ‘We hope a lot of people will come out and enjoy it.?
The project was paid for with $263,000 in money bequeathed to the library by the estate of William Stanton about 14 years ago and subsequently invested. The remaining $87,000 was derived from fund equity from the library’s operating budget.
Formal dedication of the new Teen/Adult Technology areas will take place at 3 p.m. in the foyer during the December 18 anniversary celebration.
Library Board President Duane Salswedel will dedicate the areas to the memory of Don Lovell, a former Oxford High School teacher and golf coach who served on the library board from December 1976 until his death in May 2005 at age 62.
Doublestein is encouraging everyone to attend the dedication and party.
‘It’s the community that we’re honoring,? she said. ‘We couldn’t do it without the people who support us in the community.?