North Palm Beach Library
The North Palm Beach Public Library is a public library in North Palm Beach, Florida. The library is an independent library in Palm Beach County and is not a part of library system. The library circulates approximately 48,000 items per year. The library services 12,177 residents. History. The library first began inside the women's locker room of the village's old Country Club in 1963. Then later, in a dining room. A group of women helped establish the village's public library, including Patricia Atwater, past president of the North Palm Beach Library Society and  mother of former Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater. The North Palm Beach Public Library opened October 4, 1969. When the library opened at 303 Anchorage Drive, only the upper level was finished. The main reading room was carpeted in gold; office and librarian space with automatic recording machines; a workshop with a fully equipped kitchen; a children’s reading area; a Florida book collection; a genealogy section; a record room; a financial news and information section; and about 11,000 volumes. The lower level remained a basement until the early 1970s. For many years, the lower level of the library was  an adult computer lab and the children's section was upstairs along with the adult section. After a partnership with The Conservancy School as an after-school program location attendance soared from 2,441 in 2013 to 14,191 in 2017, creating a need for a larger children's section. The library hosted a grand reopening of a revamped Children's library in May 2018. The library celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2019. Facilities. The library is a 24,893 square feet two-story building. The upper level of the library houses adult materials, computers, the Florida collection, a circulation desk, and  the Director's office. The children's and young-adult materials and multi-purpose room, called the Obert room, are on the main floor. Collections. Formats include print books, large print, DVDS, CDs, audiobooks on CD, books on MP3, e-books, e-audiobooks, magazines and newspapers. The library offers Rosetta Stone Language Learning Software in 30 Languages. The library has both a Florida collection and genealogy collection. Services. The library provides programs throughout the year. Public computers with Internet access are available. The library also offers fax, copy/scanner, meeting room, test proctoring, voter registration and wifi throughout the building . The library accepts donations in good condition. Books, magazines, DVDS, puzzles and other materials are sold throughout the year, as well as during the Friends of the library's annual book sale. The Friends of the library also host an annual bake sale.