Belle Glade Branch Library's Centennial: 100 Years of Books and Beyond

On Thursday, June 11, at 2:00 pm, the Belle Glade Branch Library will celebrate 100 years of service to Glades area residents. County Mayor Sara Baxter will be on hand, along with expected elected representatives from the City of Belle Glade and the nearby communities, to mark this amazing milestone.

Established in 1926 by the Belle Glade Women's Club in a hotel lobby, the library later became part of the City of Belle Glade before joining the Palm Beach County Library System on Oct 1, 1986. A new 17,000-square-foot library and civic center facility opened in 2013, continuing the library's long-standing role as a center for service, access and community in Western Palm Beach County.

Over the past century, the Belle Glade Branch Library has served generations of residents by providing educational resources, cultural programming and community engagement. Today, the branch features a local history collection, several Art in Public Places installations and a wide variety of activities for adults, teens and children. It also serves as a regional library hub for the Glades area.

As part of the centennial celebration, community members are invited to reflect on the library's history, celebrate its achievements and help preserve the stories that make Belle Glade unique. The event will feature family-friendly activities including local history displays, children's crafts, games, kite flying and video game tournaments. Another major highlight event is the "Your Story, Our History" Oral History & Scanning Booth. Guests will have the opportunity to share personal memories and photographs that highlight the Library's lasting impact on the community.

This centennial celebration honors stories, learning and community connections while looking toward the future. Community members of all ages are invited to take part in this historic milestone and celebrate the people, memories and experiences that have shaped the Library over the last 100 years.

For more information and event details, visit pbclibrary.org.