By Christina H. Fowler
Branch Manager Dillon County Library
How many of you know your local libraries, which you get to enjoy every day, history? If you said no well then let us take a trip back and learn about your local branches history.
Dillon County Library (Dunbar Memorial Library):
The Dunbar Memorial Library in the town of Dillon opened in March 1949. It was established through the generosity of Mrs. Ida Stackhouse Dunbar, who left the City Of Dillon a handsome mansion and a bequest of $10,000 to initiate public library service. Dunbar replaced Dillon’s Town Library, which was located in the basement of the Dillon County Courthouse building. County support used to operate the town’s library was given to Dunbar. Ms. Maude Lawrence, the town’s librarian, became Dunbar’s first manager. In 1979, the building was extensively remodeled with new furnishings added. On August 8, 1997, an act of arson destroyed the Dunbar Memorial Library.
During the construction of the new library, from 1998 through 1999, a bookmobile was sent to the site to serve the Dillon patrons. The construction was mostly completed in March 2000, and the library opened on restricted hours to the public.
For the first time in the history of the Dillon County Library the main branch is located in the county seat, Dillon. It officially opened with a dedication ceremony on April 9, 2000.
Latta Library (formerly Dillon County Library):
The Dillon County Library traces its beginnings to the establishment of the Latta Public Library in June 1914. In 1911 Reverend W.C. Allen, pastor of the Baptist Church in Latta, began to agitate the matter of a public library for the town. The Town Council endorsed his efforts and a library association was formed and duly chartered. Through the efforts of the association a $5,000 grant was secured from the Carnegie Foundation (the last grant given by that foundation) for a library building on the condition that the town furnishes a lot in the center of town. The site had to be easily accessible from all sections of the community. Mr. Carl F. Bass donated a lot, located on the northwest end of Main Street, where the library was constructed. The maintenance fund of $500 was guaranteed by placing a one-mill tax on all property in the Latta School District.
The structure has only been renovated twice in its history. The first time was in 1936. During the Depression, the WPA Library Project provided additional personnel, binding and book repair, and added a large annex to the building. Then in 1955 the library underwent another update at which time the north wing was added to the building and the heating and air conditioning system were installed.
Mr. H.A. Bethea was elected chairman of the Latta Library Board and was later honored by being selected the first chairman of the South Carolina State Library Board. The first years of the library saw a succession of librarians. Mrs. T.C. McGee in 1915 was the first, then Mrs. Lola Sessions (1917), Mrs. Ada Edwards (1918), and finally Mrs. Wessie Braddy. Mrs. Braddy served as librarian from 1921 to 1930. Mrs. C.E. (Mary Bell Manning) Bethea took command in 1930 and retired in 1972 after forty two years as director of the library. At that time the South Carolina State Library offered a special project to the Dillon County Library which would enable it to employ a professional librarian for the first time. The board accepted the offer and in June the new librarian, Ms. Janice E. Pepper, reported for duty.
The Dillon County Library officially moved to Dillon on April 9, 2000. After 27 years the library in Latta is once again known as the Latta Library.
Lake View Library:
The Lake View Library is also a branch of the Dillon County Library System. This library resulted from the efforts of the Friday Afternoon Book Club. The original one room building was completed in 1941 and an additional room was added in 1958. Mrs. Isla Ford managed the library until 1947. The Lake View building was replaced by a new 3,400 sq. ft. building in 1984 and renamed the Sadie Carmichael Library to honor one of Lake View’s notable citizens.
Dillon County Bookmobile:
In 1921 the first bookmobile began distribution of books throughout the county. The mobile library took books to many of the small neighborhood schools that were too poor to provide library services. This bookmobile was used until 1954 when it was replaced. In 1930 a legislative act was passed for a special tax of one-half mill on property throughout Dillon to fund the expanded programs. In 1956 two years after the purchase of our second bookmobile Mrs. Leila Long estimated that her average route was one hundred miles per week. The bookmobile leaves books at Minturn, Oakland, and during the summer months Hamer. The books are selected the bookmobile librarian and left for patrons to pick up. The third bookmobile was purchased in 1973, with its capacity of 1200 books, it served 26 communities at least once each month and the branch libraries whenever needed. A new vehicle was purchased in 1982 (Pioneer II model Gertenslager Van) replaced the vehicle that was at least ten years old, and had mechanical problems. The bookmobile was purchased with funds supplied by: South Carolina Rural Development Grant (10,000), Federal LSCA Grant (10,000), Dillon County (10,000), and State Aid (4,200). The bookmobile made weekly stops that were printed in the Dillon Herald so that everyone knew when the truck would be in their community. It made stops every two weeks throughout the year and service is free of charge. The bookmobile made 55 bi-monthly stops and covered over 9,000 miles annually and in that year circulated 18,100 items. The final and current bookmobile (Adventure III) was purchased in 1998. The library received a Library Services and Construction (LSCA) Title 1 Grant in the amount of 46,000.00. This grant, along with funds from Dillon County and SC State Aid purchased the new bookmobile. The technology on the new bookmobile would allow for communications online and transmit information in real time.
The bookmobile now offers new services including the Internet Café which offers patrons in rural area access to the internet.
