The Friends of the Howe Community Library are hosting a 35th anniversary reception on Saturday, November 12 from 2:00-4:00 pm at the library. The reception will celebrate the partnership between the City of Howe and the Howe ISD and honor the library’s founder, Jean Norman. All former employees, volunteers, students, library patrons, and friends are invited to attend this celebration. The library is located at 315 S. Collins Frwy and is attached to Howe Middle School campus (across the parking lot from the elementary playground).
The formation of a library in Howe began in the fall of 1980. Mr. James Ferguson, a former Howe resident, donated 11,000 books for the formation of a city library. Mr. Ferguson, eager to have these books available to the public, was referred to local citizen Jean Norman. Never expecting how her life would change, Norman welcomed him into her home and heard his ideas.
That afternoon, Norman gathered her friends for a planning meeting and the vision for establishing a town library was born. The first step was to form a Friends of the Library group. In a short period of time, the Friends group garnered advice from different sources: the Sherman Friends of the Library, regional library system (Northeast Texas Library System), and the Texas State Library. They also selected a library board, obtained city council approval, and began scouting for a library location.
Funds were needed to purchase a site so the Friends Group held many fundraising events. Bake sales, garage sales, talent show, pancake supper, “The Country Travelers” music show, membership dues, and requests for donations earned the group enough money to make a down payment for a house on the corner of Tutt and North Denny Streets. Purchase of the property and renovations required $20,000. The Howe City Council provided $6,000 with the Friends group paying over $4,000 and financed the balance.
Once the property was purchased, the house was remodeled with shelving, story area, and work areas. Mr. Ferguson helped organize the collection and often spent the night hand writing cards for the card catalog. Jean Norman recruited Pee Wee Cheerleaders to sort books on the shelves. The new Howe Public Library was dedicated on September 7, 1981 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. In the early years of the area’s history, Mr. Ferguson’s father had been the owner of Ferguson Seed Farms. At the dedication ceremony, Mr. Ferguson said “Just as my father was responsible for much of the seed planted in this county, 75 years later I want to plant seed in Howe – the seed of knowledge.”
The Friends of the Library group continued to support the library by hosting fundraising events: bike rallies, barbecue for homecoming games, professional wresting performances featuring the Von Erich’s, and a concert by country music star Louise Mandrell.
In the summer of 1985, Norman and Howe ISD Superintendent Pete Simmons discussed plans for merging the library with the Howe ISD. A board was formed to govern this new combination library. The Howe Community Library opened in September 1986 and provided services for high school and elementary students as well as the public. The combination library concept was fairly new in Texas and Howe’s partnership was recognized by the Texas State Library President.
With the construction of a new high school building, the library moved to a renovated location on the west side of the middle school in January 2002. The new location provided enhanced facilities, parking, and additional space for the growing library.
Librarians serving during the library’s history are Darlene Cherry,Francis Neely, Peggy Bradley, Roland Commons, Becky Hogenson, and current librarian Melissa Atchison.
From 1980 to the present, Jean Norman has been instrumental in the library’s success. She continues to serve on the Library Board and the Friends of the Library group. Norman has noted that for many years she has devoted some part of her day to the library. Her dedication and support has allowed the citizens of Howe to have access to library services for 35 years. She provided the avenue for Mr. Ferguson’s vision to come to fruition.
(submitted)
