Cooke County Library

"The fact of knowing how to read is nothing, the whole point is knowing what to read." - Jacques Ellul

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     In 1914, pioneer county librarian and architect, Lillian Gunter, founded a small subscription library called the Gainesville Public Library, which was located in a Carnegie building. Today this Carnegie building houses the Butterfield Stage Players. Gunter and Cooke County Representative, George W. Dayton were responsible for passing the County Free Library Law in 1919, which still remains in effect today. In 1920, this library was transformed into the Cooke County Public Library. The Cooke County Library was the second system established under this new law and the first established by petition. Gunter directed the library until her death. The library has been at the Weaver Street location since 1962.
 

There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.
— Andrew Carnegie