County Library Celebrates Milestones

There are two fundamental birthdays the library is celebrating this year. The library system has entered its 81st year and BookBytes is entering its 21st year.

The Fairfield County Library was established by the act of the State Legislature in 1938, and the County Delegation provided 1% of all school district funds for its operation. The Council of Farm Women's bookmobile was combined with the Winnsboro Women's Club's building and collection to form the first comprehensive library service in the county. In 1979, Fairfield County Council passed County Ordinance No. 29, which--along with Section4-9-35 of the State Code of Laws, provides the legal basis for current county-wide library service.

BookBytes, the brainchild of Sarah McMaster, is a Friends-sponsored newsletter highlighting the many events and programs of both the library and Friends group. The first issue began January of 2000, highlighting the grant from the Gates Foundation. This grant established the first six public computers in the Fairfield County Library system. Technology certainly has changed in the past 20 years! Now, the library hosts over 30 public computers, as well as over 15 computers utilized by staff.

Happy Birthday to Fairfield County Library and BookBytes!