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.

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.

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.