The Key West branch of the Monroe County Public Library, including the Florida Keys History Center, will close on Monday, Sept. 21 for a complete roof replacement. The closure is expected to last about four weeks.
During the closure, library staff will continue serving the community through offsite programs and outreach events. Information about those events, along with project updates, will be posted at keyslibraries.org and on the Key West library’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Patrons may pick up and borrow library materials from the pickup locker and lending machine at Bernstein Park on Stock Island. The Monroe County Public Library also offers a large and growing digital collection of e-books, audiobooks, streaming video, streaming music and other online resources. Library staff, including Florida Keys History Center staff, will remain available to answer questions online.
You may submit general library questions at keyslibraries.org/contact-us. You can reach the Florida Keys History Center directly by emailing history@monroecounty-fl.gov.
“Closing a public facility is never a decision we take lightly, especially one as important to the community as the Key West library,” Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley said. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the public facilities and resources entrusted to Monroe County.”
In addition to its expansive collection, the Key West library houses irreplaceable photographs, documents and historical materials preserved by the Florida Keys History Center. Originally opened in 1959, it was the first location in the countywide library system that now also includes branches in Big Pine Key, Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo.
