History of the Imperial Public Library

The Imperial Public Library was the brainchild of Mrs. Hulene Dale, a Home Economics teacher at Buena Vista High School. Mrs. Dale wrote to the El Paso Public Library System for information and presented it to the Imperial Community Improvement Organization.

In January 1966, the County Commissioner, Leslie Bowman, met with the organization and said that part of the basement in the Community Center could be partitioned off and furnished with the necessary shelves, lighting, and air conditioning to make it a nice, modern room.

At the March meeting, a motion was made that this organization would sponsor and be responsible for the Library in order to get a shipment of books from the State, through the El Paso center.

In July of 1966, members of the club asked that books be donated by individuals and brought to the newly-designated room by the September meeting where Mrs. Jo Wertz, Head of the Circulation Department of El Paso Public Library and Miss Elizabeth Kelley, also of El Paso, met with the organization to explain the conditions necessary to take advantage of the loan system. It was found that these specifications were met.

During November and December, a desk, chair, typewriter, and materials were purchased with county funds. On January 9, 1967, the Library was opened by a group of volunteers.

In a short while, 220 cards were issued to members that came each Monday to check out books from the supply of 850 volumes.

Soon, new shelves were added and the number of volumes grew to over 2000. In December 1967, Mrs. Betty Jane Holladay was given the position of first Librarian, at a small salary paid by Pecos County. She held this position until May 1973 and during these years, the library kept growing volume wise until there was no longer shelf room for more books.

When “Revenue-Sharing” funds were made available to cities and counties, a group consisting of the Library Board and Friends of the Library met with Judge Buck Luttrell to ask that a new building be erected. Judge Luttrell informed the group that plans were already in the making. In May 1974, the move was made to a beautiful, new hexagon shaped building that now serves the public.

The following people have served as Library Directors:

Betty Jane Holladay – December 1967 – May 1973

Denise Reid – June 1973 – May 1975

Hazel McRae – June 1975 – May 1981

Nell Ivey – June 1981 – December 1996

Maxie King – January 1997 – February 2012

Wanda Holladay Lewis – March 201 – May 2025

Kinsey Blake Haynes – June 2025 - Present