West Palm Beach Public Library

West Palm Beach, FL > West Palm Beach Groups & Organizations > West Palm Beach Public Library

address:411 Clematis Street West Palm Beach, FL 33401 phone:561-868-7701 fax:561-868-7706 website:West Palm Beach Public Library

Events Calendar

Monday, November 16th

Job Seekers Open Lab

when:1:30pm, West Palm Beach, FL
venue:West Palm Beach Public Library

Dog Tales - Lounging With Lady

when:3:30pm, West Palm Beach, FL
venue:West Palm Beach Public Library

Fab Lab

when:6:00pm, West Palm Beach, FL
venue:West Palm Beach Public Library

Tuesday, November 17th

Preschool Storytime

when:10:30am, West Palm Beach, FL
venue:West Palm Beach Public Library

Preschool Storytime

when:2:00pm, West Palm Beach, FL
venue:West Palm Beach Public Library

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History:

“You are the best library” is one of the most often heard comments about our library on Clematis Street. From residents to snowbirds, from seniors to preschoolers, all use the services and programs provided free by the Library. West Palm Beach’s library is an unparalleled asset in our community.

Cardholders total over 74,000 and more than 500,000 people visit the library each year.

The West Palm Beach Public Library began as the West Palm Beach Reading Room in the Congregational Church at the corner of Datura and Olive Streets in 1894. Soon after, Commodore C.J. Clarke, a Palm Beach yachtsman, donated a houseboat to the Palm Beach Literary Society. The collection from the Reading Room and a $100 donation from Henry Flagler created the first city library. The houseboat was anchored at a dock off of the city park where Clematis Street terminates at the Lake Worth section of the Intra-Coastal Waterway. Residents were encouraged to visit the Reading Room instead of wasting time drinking on Banyan Street.