 |
         |
 |
The History of Cowan Library By L. Jarod Pearson
The first Cowan library was a “Lending Library” established inside Cowan Post Office in 1930. Although we do not know the number of volumes, Mrs. Myra Evans remembered that about 30 books were checked out each month. The library was self-serve was maintained by volunteers, but to her knowledge all books were properly checked out and returned.
In 1946 or 1947 the library expanded and moved to the balcony of the Cowan Mercantile Co. The Scout House was built in the 1950’s and the library soon relocated there. By this time the library had grown to 200 books and about 150 patrons. As in the past, it was staffed by volunteer ladies taking individual shifts. While the library was located at the Scout House, a bizarre accident occurred as a vehicle crashed through the building did extensive damage.
In 1966 the books were moved to Cowan City Hall, which at that time was located in the downstairs front section of the Genesco Building (today known as Monterey Station). Two years later the books were moved to a separate room upstairs in the same building and remained there for nearly two decades. In this timeframe, the library became part of the Highland Rim Regional Library system. Volume grew to 2,120 books with a monthly circulation of about 200.
When a new industrial tenant moved into the Genesco building the wear and tear and cost of maintenance made it less desirable for a library. In 1987 or 1988, the City secured an empty storefront on East Cumberland Street at the former Myers Antiques location and remained there for about a decade.
In the early 1990’s the City government acquired the former Modern Beauty Shop building on Tennessee Avenue next door to City Hall. This location provided for a larger and more accessible Police Department, but also provided plenty of space for the library. The library moved there in 1995, but problems with the building manifested soon afterward. Roof and structural problems exposed the books to moisture and mildew, but unfortunately funds were not available to properly fix the building.
Cowan City Hall relocated in 1997 to the former Regions Bank building on East Cumberland Street. The library and police department remained on Tennessee Avenue until conditions were no longer acceptable. The police department moved temporarily into an unused office at Cowan City Hall while the library moved into the vault room (with its beautiful and elaborate door!) of the same building. In 1999 the police department and library moved into a newly constructed metal frame building on Monterey Street next door the fire department.
The library then moved in 2006 to Cowan Welcome Center at the old Texaco station in the middle of town. This gave the Police Department additional space but also benefitted the library with a larger, more visible space in the middle of town. In the first year at the Welcome Center, readership increased noticeably and then doubled the very next year.
Today’s Cowan Library offers 1,600 volumes of everything from novels, history books, and children’s books to periodicals and books on tape. The interlibrary loan system gives Cowan readers access to thousands more books simply by making a special request through the local librarian.
With nearly eight decades of service to the community, Cowan Library is one of Cowan’s proudest assets!
Succession of Cowan Librarians: Myra Evans, Wilma “Snooks” Windels, Rose Hancock, Carter Smith. This list does not include the dozen or so volunteer librarians that have helped Cowan library throughout its many years of service to the community.
|