Leesburg Public Library

Leesburg, Florida was incorporated in 1875 and the first evidence of a lending library dates back to 1883 when Mrs. A. B. Efird offered her personal book collection for loan from her husband’s store on Main Street.  When Mr. Efird moved his store in 1892 to a larger, more modern building, no one remembers seeing the books move to the new location.  It is thought that Mrs. Efird moved her books to a small building owned by Mr. R.F.E. Cooke.  It is believed to be the first Leesburg Public Library

In 1920 or 1921 that building was beyond repair and torn down.  The books were boxed up and stored in an empty room on the second floor of a building in the Gold Block.  There the books stayed for about three years.

In 1922 and in 1923 the Women’s Club brought up the library subject again.  The minutes read, “A committee from the club was appointed to meet with the library membership for the purpose of making definite plans for taking care of the library.”  In the fall, the books were moved into the northwest room of the clubhouse. 

In 1928, Mrs. Stella Fabyan was appointed director of the library.  She approached the City of Leesburg to construct a building to be used for the library but the City promised no help.  Again in 1938, Mrs. Fabyan urged the City to construct a library building but nothing happened.  Mrs. Fabyan died in 1939 and the library all but disappeared.

In 1946 the Woman’s Club sold their building so the library had to move.  It was moved into a second story store front on Main St.  No records were ever found of the library activity for this time.

In 1953 a charter was established for the library and officers were elected and in 1954 this board met in their new quarters in the Community Building at the Venetian Gardens.  In the fall of 1965, the main library moved into the vacated Post Office and remained there until 1986.  In 1986 the library moved one block east, into a vacant Sears store. 

Finally, in May of 2007, the library moved into the first ever brand new library.