A Short History of the Library

According to the History of Newton County, the free public library opened its doors for the first time in November of 1944. In September of that year, at a meeting in the home of Mrs. Katherine Paty, plans were made for a public library. Space was provided in the basement of the Newton County Courthouse.

In 1953 the library became part of the DeKalb Regional Library System, a three-county regional library system including Newton, DeKalb and Rockdale counties. The growing library moved from the courthouse basement into the Covington Gymnasium on Conyers Street.

In 1978 funding from James H. Porter Foundation made possible the renovation of the old post office on Monticello Street and the Porter Memorial Library came into being.

Newton County Library Circa 1978

In 1989 The DeKalb Regional Library System was disbanded and each of the three counties became individual library systems, DeKalb County Library System, Conyers-Rockdale Public Library and Newton County Library System.

A Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) passed by the voters of Newton County in 1995 along with a grant from the State of Georgia funded a new 32,000 square-foot building that opened in 1998 called the Newton County Library.

In 2000 the library joined the state-wide consortium PINES, Georgia Public Information Network for Electronic Services. PINES is a network of public libraries working toward the concept of a state-wide library card by sharing a database and library materials. Benefits for the public include access to books in libraries across the state, the ability to travel around the state using local libraries, borrowing and returning materials at PINES libraries with a PINES library card, and online access to the catalog and your own account in PINES.

In 2008 funding was secured for a new branch in the Oak Hill area of the county. Planning and design was started for the Porter Memorial Branch Library with a projected opening in the fall of 2010.

Also in 2008 a formal agreement was entered into with the Newborn Town Council that made their community developed library become a service outlet and part of the library system.

Newborn Library Service Outlet History

In 1981 a “deposit collection”, or a significant loan of materials for an extended period of time from the Covington Library, was placed in the Newborn town hall. The deposit collection was rotated with new books quarterly.

About 2002 a group of community members headed by Janette Ziegler started a “Friends of the Library” organization. They secured an area in the Childs Building and over a period of years the Friends worked with the Library to expand and improve the space for the deposit collection eventually creating a1,200 square foot enclosed library area. Both the Library and the Friends have contributed furniture and books resulting in a small, informal lending library. Gradually the Library’s expanded its services by providing basic computer equipment for public use, by providing staff for regular visits including storytime and general library assistance to the public.

In 2008 a formal agreement between the Newborn Town Council and Library established the provision of materials and services thus enabling the library to make the Newborn deposit collection eligible for “Service Outlet” status with the State of Georgia’s library services governing agency. Establishing the Newborn Library Service Outlet makes the library eligible for grant funding from the state that directly benefits the citizens of Newborn in the form of the of a permanent lending collection, Internet access and library services for this tiny community.