Monroe County Public Library (Florida Keys)

The Monroe County Public Library System is a public library system located in Monroe County, Florida, which includes the Florida Keys. The system has five branches located in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, and Key West. The Monroe County Public Library system aims to "serve the educational, recreational and informational needs and interests" of the communities of the Florida Keys.

History
In 1892, the Key West Library Association was formally organized on April 8. This date makes the library system the oldest in South Florida. In September of 1892, the library opened in a room on the 2nd floor of Masonic Hall on Simonton Street with 1200 volumes. The library moved initially to the Albury Building at 417 Duval Street. Then in 1917, it moved across the street to the Sweeting Building at 420 Duval Street. In 1941, the library moved to the Woman’s Club at 319 Duval Street. In 1951, the City of Key West agreed to partially fund library operations. In 1956, Monroe County agreed to add to their assistance. November 15, 1959, the Key West Library officially opened. On that first day, 237 books were checked out.

On February 1962, the Marathon Library branch opened in Marathon, Florida. First it was housed in the American Legion. Then moved to a local church site due to incompatibility with the bar. The Key Largo Library branch opened at the Key Largo Civic Club in 1964. In November of 1966, The Islamorada Library branch opened in a Red Cross building constructed after the 1935 hurricane. In July of 1995, the Big Pine Key Library branch opened in Big Pine Key, Florida.

There is a remarkably coincidental connection between Ernest Hemingway and the Monroe County Public Library System. In WWI, Hemingway was injured in Italy, and he was tended to by a nurse named Agnes Von Kurowsky. Hemingway wound up falling in love with Agnes and eventually asked her to marry him. She turned him down and he never quite got over the rejection. She inspired the character Catherine in “A Farewell to Arms.” In 1956, Agnes Von Kurowsky (Stanfield) moved to Key West and went to work at the Key West Library after it opened. One day she asked Betty Bruce about “Ernie,” and Bruce knew something was up. The story came out. One of Hemingway’s great muses was also a Monroe County librarian.

Services
The Islamorada library is a full-service library that is open to residents and visitors and offers a variety of books, newspapers and articles, audio-visual resources, in-library online databases, and resources to Florida Keys history, including a large photo collection available online.

The libraries also provide public internet access computers, free Wi-Fi, and printing from public computers. In addition, they offer children's events, homework help, Ask A Librarian, various programs, and meeting rooms.

Kimberly Matthews is the Library Director.

Branches

 * Key Largo Library
 * Islamorada Library
 * Marathon Library
 * Big Pine Library
 * Key West Library