History
The Montevallo Public Library was founded in March of 1958 under the leadership of the City of Montevallo and the Montevallo Branch of the American Association of University Women. The President of the Montevallo Branch of AAUW at that time was Dr. Lucille Griffith, who was also serving as Chair of the Montevallo Library Board. The library began modestly as a collection of several hundred books in a small room at City Hall. The first librarian was Lillian Ward.
In 1974 the public library was moved to the Depot-in-the-Park, where Mayme Yarbrough was the librarian. It remained there until a 1978 fire destroyed the building and all its contents. The library was relocated to the City Hall Annex until 1984. At that time, the library was moved to the renovated telephone company switching building that had been donated to the City of Montevallo for a public library by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. "Foots" Parnell, Jr., and named in memory of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. L. C. Parnell, Sr. The renovation of the building was made possible through the efforts of many people in this community and beyond. From March of 1984 until December of 2006, that facility served as Montevallo's public library.
As community needs grew, and particularly as community arts programming expanded, it was apparent that Montevallo needed a larger, multipurpose facility that was more than a traditional library.
In response to the offer from Dr. L. C. "Foots" Parnell, Jr., to house his Civil War collection in the existing library at 845 Valley Street if an expansion of the library were undertaken, Parnell Memorial Library Foundation was incorporated on March 23, 1998. The mission of the Foundation is to promote funding for expansion of the facilities, services, and programs of Parnell Memorial Library. Emily Pendleton spearheaded the efforts leading to incorporation and to the Foundation's receiving 501(c)3 nonprofit status with the IRS. She was the first President of the Foundation, serving from 1998 until 2001, when Elizabeth H. Rodgers was elected President. She served until January of 2009, when Robert "Bobby" Hughes was elected President.
One of the primary agents of community arts programming is the Montevallo Main Street Players. The community theater group began more than thirty years ago and has performed in various city locations, including the Depot-in-the-Park and the City recreational building. For years, members of the Montevallo Main Street Players had needed a theater, complete with an up-to-date lighting and sound system, that they could use consistently for producing plays and storing props.
In June of 2001, when it was clear that the renovation of the existing library was not a viable option, representatives from the Foundation, the Montevallo Library Board, the Library Staff, the Montevallo Main Street Players, and the City of Montevallo agreed that the community needed a new library in a new location to meet diverse community needs and to house the Parnell Collection of historical books and documents. The group requested that the City locate property suitable for building a new library that would also serve as a community cultural center. In August of 2001, Mayor Grady Parker announced that the new facility would be located adjacent to Orr Park where it was subsequently built as the result of the successful Building Community Together Capital Campaign. Groundbreaking took place on November 1, 2004, and the Grand Opening was held February 25, 2007.
The new library includes a high-quality theatre used for plays and other productions presented by the Montevallo Main Street Players, the PMLF Children's Theatre Workshops in the summer, and area civic groups, and schools. It is also the venue for movies for all ages sponsored by the Parnell Memorial Library throughout the year. Along with the large meeting room, the theatre is a much-needed venue for theatre and musical productions by local and touring companies as well as for City of Montevallo meetings and other civic gatherings.
In 1974 the public library was moved to the Depot-in-the-Park, where Mayme Yarbrough was the librarian. It remained there until a 1978 fire destroyed the building and all its contents. The library was relocated to the City Hall Annex until 1984. At that time, the library was moved to the renovated telephone company switching building that had been donated to the City of Montevallo for a public library by Dr. and Mrs. L.C. "Foots" Parnell, Jr., and named in memory of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. L. C. Parnell, Sr. The renovation of the building was made possible through the efforts of many people in this community and beyond. From March of 1984 until December of 2006, that facility served as Montevallo's public library.
As community needs grew, and particularly as community arts programming expanded, it was apparent that Montevallo needed a larger, multipurpose facility that was more than a traditional library.
In response to the offer from Dr. L. C. "Foots" Parnell, Jr., to house his Civil War collection in the existing library at 845 Valley Street if an expansion of the library were undertaken, Parnell Memorial Library Foundation was incorporated on March 23, 1998. The mission of the Foundation is to promote funding for expansion of the facilities, services, and programs of Parnell Memorial Library. Emily Pendleton spearheaded the efforts leading to incorporation and to the Foundation's receiving 501(c)3 nonprofit status with the IRS. She was the first President of the Foundation, serving from 1998 until 2001, when Elizabeth H. Rodgers was elected President. She served until January of 2009, when Robert "Bobby" Hughes was elected President.
One of the primary agents of community arts programming is the Montevallo Main Street Players. The community theater group began more than thirty years ago and has performed in various city locations, including the Depot-in-the-Park and the City recreational building. For years, members of the Montevallo Main Street Players had needed a theater, complete with an up-to-date lighting and sound system, that they could use consistently for producing plays and storing props.
In June of 2001, when it was clear that the renovation of the existing library was not a viable option, representatives from the Foundation, the Montevallo Library Board, the Library Staff, the Montevallo Main Street Players, and the City of Montevallo agreed that the community needed a new library in a new location to meet diverse community needs and to house the Parnell Collection of historical books and documents. The group requested that the City locate property suitable for building a new library that would also serve as a community cultural center. In August of 2001, Mayor Grady Parker announced that the new facility would be located adjacent to Orr Park where it was subsequently built as the result of the successful Building Community Together Capital Campaign. Groundbreaking took place on November 1, 2004, and the Grand Opening was held February 25, 2007.
The new library includes a high-quality theatre used for plays and other productions presented by the Montevallo Main Street Players, the PMLF Children's Theatre Workshops in the summer, and area civic groups, and schools. It is also the venue for movies for all ages sponsored by the Parnell Memorial Library throughout the year. Along with the large meeting room, the theatre is a much-needed venue for theatre and musical productions by local and touring companies as well as for City of Montevallo meetings and other civic gatherings.