Early in 1969 a group of dedicated citizens, soon to become the Friends-of-the-Library, surveyed the community and found a strong desire for its citizens to have their own library. The first library board was soon formed, with Dr. Leonard Robinson as its chairman; the other members being Dr. Joe Volker, Jack Echols, Buell Warren, and Sara Wuska. In April of 1969 the library opened on the present site of the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, with slightly more than 7,000 books. In 1995, the library moved to a medical building that had been donated. Growth of the library and its patronage was rapid, and less than ten years later it was apparent that a new library would soon be needed.
In 2010, Vestavia Hills was able to celebrate the grand opening of the City's first dedicated library building, the Library In The Forest. Through a unique public-private partnership, Vestavia Hills has been able to construct a facility of national prominence for its environmentally sensitive construction. Generous State and foundation support was combined with approximately $8 million from the City and $4 million in contributions from residents and community groups to build the library at the foot of Boulder Canyon Nature Trail. As Alabama's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified library, the Library In The Forest is expected to be only the 39th in the United States to achieve the Gold certification or higher. In addition to its environmental role, the LITF promotes commuity and economic developmkent by reinforcing the social fabric as a unique and dynamic gathering space designed with the purpose of encouraging networking and participation in global discussion. Meeting, study, and social spaces have been planned in tandem with technology to foster intellectual, social, and economic development.
Please Visit the Vestavia Hills Public Library web site to learn more about our new library and services.
Follow this link to visit the Jefferson County Library Cooperative.