Marianne Beck Memorial Library
🏢 Lake County Library System · Howey In The Hills, Florida
Marianne Beck Memorial Library
What started as an Eagle Scout project in a two-room carport in 1985 grew — through community fundraising of nearly $50,000 — into the Marianne Beck Memorial Library at 112 West Central Avenue in Howey-in-the-Hills. Now a full Lake County Library System member since 2008 and nearly doubled in size after the 2020 Library Education Center addition, the library is the cultural heart of this small citrus-country town on the shores of Lake Harris.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 112 West Central Avenue, Howey In The Hills, FL 34737
Phone: (352) 324-0254
Website: mylakelibrary.org
Plus Code: 76WWP67G+GG (Howey In The Hills, FL)
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📖 About Marianne Beck Memorial Library
The Marianne Beck Memorial Library began in 1985 as a grassroots Eagle Scout project operating out of two rooms in the Howey Police Department's carport and breezeway. Within months, community members raised nearly $50,000 to remodel a former convenience store the town purchased specifically to house the growing collection. A Gates Library Initiative grant then supplied computers, a server and a printer, bringing the library into the digital age. In 2008, Howey joined the Lake County Library System, connecting patrons to a shared countywide catalog and digital resources. A 2013 expansion added about 800 square feet — creating more children's space and a reading garden — and in 2020 a 2,000-square-foot Library Education Center wing was constructed, doubling the facility's size and adding a dividable meeting room. The library is a volunteer-driven community anchor serving Lake County's smallest incorporated town, with programming ranging from Friday storytimes and homeschool classes to adult Canasta and Mahjong games.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1985 as a grassroots Eagle Scout project; community residents raised nearly $50,000 to build the first permanent home in a remodeled convenience store
- Member of the Lake County Library System since 2008 — a Howey card unlocks the full county digital collection and shared catalog
- 2020 Library Education Center addition doubled the facility to roughly 4,000 sq ft with a 50-person dividable meeting room
- 2013 expansion added children's space and a reading garden; 2021 grand re-opening ceremony celebrated the completed new wing
- Genealogy resources on-site: Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest available free with a library card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Howey-in-the-Hills cardholders access the Lake County Library System's full digital toolkit free of charge:
📚 Services
- Free public computers with educational software and internet access
- Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest for genealogy research
- Pronounciator language-learning software (70+ languages)
- ABCmouse.com for early learners (in-library access)
- Learning Express Library for academic and career test prep
- Book donations accepted and available to patrons
- Meeting room available for community use (Library Education Center, up to 50 people)
🎸 Programs
- Friday storytime and crafts for children
- Homeschool classes with field trips and guest speakers
- Chess club for all ages
- Adult Canasta and Mahjong games
- Monthly movie nights
- Community celebration events and seasonal programs
- Friends of the Library volunteer support group
📍 Nearby Libraries in Lake & Orange Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Howey In The Hills · Browse all Florida libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Marianne Beck Memorial Library get started in such a small town?
The library was born in 1985 as an Eagle Scout community project, operating from two rooms in the Howey Police Department's carport. Within a short time, local residents rallied to raise nearly $50,000, which paid for the interior remodeling of a former convenience store the town had purchased to serve as a permanent library home. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Library Initiative Grant later supplied the library's first computers and printer.
What is the Lake County Library System, and what does membership mean for Howey patrons?
The Lake County Library System is the cooperative that links public libraries throughout Lake County, Florida. Howey-in-the-Hills joined in 2008, meaning that a Marianne Beck Memorial Library card gives you access to the shared countywide catalog, allowing you to borrow from any member library and pick up holds locally. It also unlocks the system's digital collection, including Libby/OverDrive, cloudLibrary, and other databases.
Does the library have space for community meetings or events?
Yes. The 2020 Library Education Center expansion added a 2,000-square-foot wing with a meeting room that accommodates up to 50 people and can be divided into two smaller spaces. The room is used for library programs — storytimes, homeschool classes, movie nights and workshops — as well as community events.
Can I research my family tree at the Marianne Beck Memorial Library?
Yes. The library provides free in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest, two leading genealogy databases. These resources allow patrons to search census records, immigration documents, newspapers and other primary sources. Staff can assist with getting started on genealogy research.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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