History of the Citrus County Library System
Our library history started with a small one room building in the city of Inverness in 1917. It served as the first Library in Citrus County. Since then, the Library System has expanded to the five branches we have today.
History of the Citrus County Library System
1917
The first Library in Citrus County was a small building used by the Inverness Woman’s Club in Inverness.
1930s
The first Inverness Library is remodeled into a smaller space.
1940s
The first Library in Crystal River opens.
1958
A Library in Floral City is started by the Floral City Lion’s Club in their building.
1959
A new Floral City Library is built. The Crystal River and Homosassa Libraries are formed.
1960
Hernando Civic Club starts a Library in their clubhouse.
1961
All 5 libraries (Crystal River, Floral City, Hernando, Homosassa, & Inverness) join the Central Florida Regional Library System with Levy County and Marion County.
1963
The Friends of the Library are founded. A new Crystal River Library is built.
1965
Residents visit every home in Beverly Hills to solicit $1 towards the start of a new Library. The Library was a few shelves in the former recreation hall at the time. They succeed and the Library is then moved to a new building on Beverly Boulevard.
1969
The Beverly Hills Library is relocated to the Fire House on Civic Circle.
1970
The Beverly Hills Library opens in the Fire House.
1979
A new Fire House is built. The Beverly Hills Library expands to occupy the entire old Fire House and is dedicated.
1984
Special Taxing District passes with the largest margin of any referendum in Citrus County. Preparations begin for the the building of 2 new libraries in Crystal River and in Homosassa.
The Special Library District Advisory Board is created and its first members appointed.
1985
The site for the new Crystal River Library is approved.
1986
Build site is approved for a new Inverness Library. Groundbreaking for both the Crystal River and Inverness Libraries in happens in October 1986.
1987
Grand opening of the Crystal River and Inverness Libraries is held on November 22nd. The Citrus County Library System is established.
1994
Ground breaking for the new Beverly Hills Library now called Central Ridge Library.
The first Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) becomes available.
1995
Grand opening and dedication of the new Central Ridge Library.
1996
The Libraries get online and get text access to the internet and other online resources.
1997
10th anniversary of Citrus County Library System.
The first Citrus Libraries website is developed.
Graphical access to the internet is made available at the Lakes Region and Coastal Region branches.
1998
Public internet access is expanded to all Citrus County Library branches.
2002
Computer lab opens in Central Ridge.
15th anniversary of the Citrus County Library System.
2005
Design, construction, and expansion begins for a new Homosassa Library and new Floral City Library.
2007
The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Homosassa Library.
2008
Ground breaking of the new Floral City Library.
2009
Grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Floral City Library.
2011
The first Love Your Library event is presented by the Library Advisory Board.
2012
The Citrus County Library System celebrates 25 years.
The Library System launches downloadable eBooks for mobile devices.
2017
The Citrus County Library System celebrates 30 years.