History of the Hoover Public Library

The Hoover Public Library has had an amazing history. Click on the links below to learn about how we have grown and changed over the years.


The Early Years: River Oaks Village, 1983-1985	The In-Between Years: Hoover Municipal Complex, 1985-1992


The Hoover Public Library, 1992-1999	The "New" Hoover Public Library, 1999

Timeline of events

The Early Years: River Oaks Village, 1983-1985

The foundation for the Hoover Public Library began in July 1982 when a group of citizens met in the home of Paul and Mary Lou Allen to discuss the possibility of a library in Hoover. This group, which eventually became the Friends of the Hoover Public Library, began circulating petitions which were signed by thousands of people who were interested in a library.

In December 1982, the City Council appropriated $100,000 for a new library. At the same time, Mayor Frank Skinner appointed a five-member board of trustees for the planned library. This first board consisted of Paul Allen, Philip Benefield, George Farmer, Eloise Martens and Harold Shepherd. In a meeting with the new board in January 1983, Mayor Skinner challenged the group to open a new library within nine months.

Patrons line up to check out books on opening day. Progress toward this goal happened quickly. By April, a lease for a temporary library was signed at River Oaks Village and a director for the library had been named. Linda Andrews, formerly of the Eastwood Mall branch of the Birmingham Public Library, was presented to the Friends of the Library at a meeting held at the Club in May 1983.

Robert McCammon was one of the first authors to appear at the Library. While construction on the 4,000 square-foot storefront was underway, under the supervision of Howard, Garrett & Associates, Ms. Andrews set about the task of building a collection for the library. She and her team of three full-time and five part-time employees, plus numerous volunteers, set up shop in an office/warehouse space. More than 8,000 books and other materials were purchased and prepared for the grand opening.

Months of hard work were rewarded when the Hoover Public Library officially opened for business from 1 to 5 p.m. on October 8, 1983. Mayor Skinner performed the ribbon-cutting while the crowd anxiously awaited the opportunity to enter the new library. Children were treated to an opening-day puppet show and storytime.

The new Library continued to generate publicity through the end of the year. In November, the Hoover-Riverchase Rotary Club presented the Library with a gift of $2500 for a career information section. In December, Ms. Andrews and other Library officials rode in the Hoover Christmas Parade in a vintage car to wish everyone a "Novel Christmas."

In March 1984, the Library received another significant gift from a local civic organization. The Bluff Park Art Association presented the Library with a $500 check for the purchase of art books.

The Library kicked off Summer 1984 in grand style with its first Alabama Bookworm Reading Club Blast-Off Party, featuring clowns, prizes, and refreshments. However, the real highlight of the day, and the one that made national library news, was the "live worm races." Other programs that summer included presentations by the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Zoo, Alabama Wildlife Rescue, and Arlington Antebellum Home.

As summer winded down, the Library and the City geared up for a couple of significant events. The groundbreaking for the new Hoover Municipal Center took place in September 1984. And, in October, the Library celebrated its first year of operation with a full birthday party. However, the celebration didn't really end until 1985.

More than 1500 people attended an outdoor performance by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on April 21, 1985. In addition to being the culmination of more than a year of highly visible programs, it was also the first time people in the Hoover area had the opportunity to see the full orchestra perform.

Later that year, in November, the Hoover Public Library became "A Library on the Move." After two years at River Oaks, the Library was already bursting at the seams. From its initial 8,000 volumes, the collection had grown to more than 40,000, most of which were being kept in storage. So on November 4, the Library closed the doors on its storefront space forever.

The In-Between Years: Hoover Municipal Complex, 1985-1992

On November 24, 1985, the Library reopened on the second floor of the brand-new Hoover Municipal Complex. The new temporary library had 10,000 square feet, plus a terrace for programs, more than double that of the River Oaks location, plenty of room for the Library's growing collection. In fact, the Library was able to introduce a new service for its patrons; more than 500 videos were now available for checkout.

Over the next several years, the Library continued to be a popular destination in the Hoover area by bringing several well-known authors to town. Children flocked to the Library to see the likes of Peggy Parish, E.L. Konigsburg, Steven Kellogg, and S.E. Hinton. Adult authors to speak at the Library during these years included Mark Childress, Winston Groom, Robert McCammon, Vicki Covington, and parenting experts such as Jim Trelease and Adele Faber. A special treat in April 1991 was "My Name Is Julia," a dramatization of the life of Julia Tutwiler by noted storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham.

The Hoover Public Library continued to expand its collection as well. In fact, the Library was again bursting at the seams less than three years after moving to the Municipal Center. In 1988, the Library became the fifth-largest in the state in circulation, and in 1990, it rose again to fourth-largest.

In 1987, the design firm of Evan M. Terry Associates completed plans for a $5 million permanent library facility. Unfortunately, it would be another three years before the budget would allow for any more work to be done. In the meantime, the Library made the most of its tight situation by installing much-needed new shelving.

In September 1990, the City Council borrowed $24 million dollars for capital projects, a portion of which was earmarked for the construction of a library. A construction contract was signed in December, and the ground was broken on a site across Old Rocky Ridge Road from the Municipal Center in early 1991. A year of construction and progress followed, and in January 1992, the Library closed its doors in anticipation of its move to a permanent home.

The Hoover Public Library 1992-1999

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter tours the Library during her visit in 1993. When the Hoover Public Library finally opened its doors in February 1992, it was the ultimate culmination of the dream that began nearly ten years before in the home of Paul and Mary Lou Allen. The state of the art facility was greeted with much celebration and fanfare by the community. In addition to being a much larger library, the 45,000 square-foot building contained many new and innovative features that became favorites with patrons and staff alike.

The Youth Department featured a colorful story house where children could go to enjoy their favorite book, and the young adults also had their own, unique area. Comfortable, quiet areas were set aside for both adult business and art & music collections, and there were also two art galleries to display the work of local artists. Outside was a vast plaza that doubled as an amphitheatre for concerts or other summertime events.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the new library was the 250-seat Library Theatre. The theater can accommodate almost any production, and has made the Library a cultural destination, not only for Hoover, but also for Birmingham and the South. The Library Theatre's premiere season kicked off with a performance by the Alabama Ballet and ended with the Gerhart Chamber Music Festival, an event that would become a regular tradition. Each year, the Library Theatre puts on a full season of music, drama, dance, and other special events. Highlights from years past include performances by the Alabma Ballet and Southern Danceworks; concerts by Stephen Bishop, Cherish the Ladies, and Henri's Notions; and premier performances by playwrights Brad Bailey and Tom Key. In February 1992, the Library began another annual tradition when the first Southern Voices Conference was held. Southern Voices is a three-day conference exploring the characteristics of southern culture as reflected in our contemporary arts. The first year, Rosalynn Carter was presented the Southern Voices Award for Distinguished Achievement. Subsequent recipients of this award were: Shelby Foote, Pat Conroy, Winston Groom, Anne Rivers Siddons, Gene Stallings, and Lee Smith. Other renowned authors who have participated in this event include: Clyde Edgerton, Bailey White, Orson Scott Card, Martin Clark, Connie May Fowler, Leah Rawls Atkins, Lee May, Anne George, Peter Guralnick, Anne Patchett, Clifton Taulbert, Terry Kay, Kaye Gibbons, and Tony Horwitz.

The Southern Voices weekend usually concludes on Sunday with an event showcasing Southern culture. One of the highlights was the 1998 debut of Alabama Troubadours, songwriter Karren Pell's musical roadtrip through Alabama, accompanied by beautiful photographs by Chip Cooper.

During the '90s, the Youth Department continued to draw kids of all ages to the Library with a unique mix of programs. In addition to the annual Summer Library Program and an assortment of storytimes and puppet shows, the Library has continued to bring many popular and well-respected children's and young adult authors to town. Some of the more notable ones include: Lois Lowry, Tomie de Paola, Avi, Paula Danziger, Bill Martin, Jr., and William Sleator.

Other notable milestones and achievements of the Hoover Public Library during this time include:

In September 1993, the Bluff Park Art Association commissioned a sculpture for the library by Frank Fleming.
In October 1993, the Library celebrated its 10th anniversary.
In September 1994, the Library was named the Best Library in Birmingham by Birmingham magazine.
In 1995, Linda Andrews was named Librarian of the Year by the Alabama Library Association.
In July 1997, Hoover is ranked among the nation's top four libraries in Library Journal's Library of the Year contest.

Expansion: The "New" Hoover Public Library, 1999 - Present

With shelves once again getting tight and space at a minimum, the Library broke ground for an expansion and renovation project and construction began in October 1999. In the past, the Library was able to continue normal operations because construction was going on at another site. However, since the expansion project involved a renovation of the existing building, it was necessary to close the Library for certain periods of time.

In August 2000, the Reference Department and part of the Youth Department were closed so that renovations could begin in those areas.Later, in October 2000, the entire Library closed to begin the major renovation and construction process.

However, the Library was committed to maintaining some form of service to the public during this time, although available space was limited and most of the collection was in storage. So in December 2000, the librarybegan its Library in the Lobby period. Working from tables set up in the lobby, the Library was able to meet patrons' general reference and popular reading needs through a core collection of materials housed in the Library's meeting rooms. Also, the Youth Department maintained somewhat regular storytime hours from the Bluff Park Community School.

As the saying goes, the show must go on. Despite the construction, Southern Voices 2001 was held in February as planned. The conference featured acclaimed authors Bailey White and Orson Scott Card, among others. The Library Theatre also held a number of shows during this time, including a production of Romeo and Juliet, an encore performance by Cherish the Ladies, and concerts by Rollin' in the Hay and ScrujMacDuhk.

In February 2001, Library in the Lobby came to an end, so that staff could concentrate on reshelving materials, installing 100 new computers,and preparing for the Grand Reopening. The Grand Reopening in April 2001 marked the next stage in the library's growth and evolution. The library has nearly doubled in size and added a number of new services which will allow the library to serve its patrons well into the 21st century.Highlights include a computer training center and hub, a Friends of the Library bookstore, an expanded Business Department, a specially designed youth programming room, additional seating, shelving, and computers, a snack area for patrons, and an expanded parking area.

Construction of the Expansion Pictures

The Ground Breaking Ceremony

Timeline of events

1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991
1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001

1982

July - Group of Hoover citizens meets to discuss the possibility of a library in Hoover

Oct. - Group becomes the Friends of the Hoover Public Library; circulates a petition that is signed by thousands

Dec. - City appropriates $100,000 for a library and appoints a five-member board of trustees