Director's Message

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
CONRAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY 

The Hayti Public Library was established in 1934.  The first library was in the City Hall.  The Hayti Women’s Club was instrumental in getting the library established.  The library had about 500 contributed books.  The club operated the library for approximately two years.  Club members encouraged a drive for the city to take over the library and be funded by a small tax.  The tax was approved on April 1, 1936.

The city took over the library operations in November of 1936.  Mrs. J. B. Buckley was the librarian and Ella Vaughn was the clerk.  A board of nine members must be appointed and approved by the city administration.  The library had about 700 books.  The library was open from 2-5 during the weekdays.  Book review meetings were held frequently.

In 1950 the Conran Family obtained a lot from the Wells family.  Their family always felt that there was a need for a library in Hayti.  The Conran Memorial Library was completed in 1951 by Effie Conran of New Madrid.  The cost of the site, building, and fixtures was $75,000.  The new library was dedicated on January 24, 1951.  The building was a brick structure with dimensions of 26 ft by 60 ft.  There was a special room solely dedicated to children’s publications and books.  Front and rear walls contained glass bricks.

In December of 1987 Henry Dawson Wells, Jr. donated a block of property adjacent to the city in memory of his father.  The gazebo is located on this property.  He requested that if the library should ever expand, this addition would be in his father’s memory.  A resolution would allow the city to accept the property for the library to use if needed for expansion.  For many years, Hazel Poe served as the library director for the Conran Memorial Library.

On June 4, 2002, First State Community Bank deeded the property to the east of the library to the city.  Eventually, this building became part of the Conran Memorial Library.  The additional space allowed for seven computers to be added.  Most of the books shelved in this portion of the library are nonfiction.  At the present time, our library has 14,745 books.