Corbit-Calloway Public Library
🏢 Delaware Division of Libraries · Odessa, Delaware
Corbit-Calloway Public Library
Corbit-Calloway Public Library in Odessa holds a singular distinction: it opened on May 20, 1848 as Delaware's first free public library open to all — including women and children. Founded on a bequest from physician Dr. James Corbit and honoring later benefactor Leslie Calloway, it now occupies a 6,100 sq ft brick colonial building on High Street and offers free museum passes alongside nearly 55,000 items.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 1pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–4pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–4pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 115 High Street, Odessa, DE 19730
Phone: (302) 378-8838
Website: corbitcalloway.lib.de.us
Plus Code: 87F6F83V+WQ (Odessa, DE)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Corbit-Calloway Public Library
Corbit-Calloway Public Library lays claim to being Delaware's first free public library. It was established in 1847 when Dr. James Corbit, a respected Odessa physician, left a charitable gift to the community, and the library opened its doors on May 20, 1848 in the Old Academy Building — open to everyone, including women and children, at a time when few public institutions offered such access. An 1893 fire damaged the original structure, prompting several relocations until the collection found a home in the historic Wilson Mansion on Main Street in 1924. Electric lighting was added in 1927 and a parlor expansion in 1937. The library's second namesake, Leslie Calloway, donated land and funds for a new purpose-built facility, and on May 20, 1968 — precisely 120 years after the original opening — a brick colonial building opened on High Street. At that moment the institution formally adopted the name Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library. A 1986 expansion brought the building to its current 6,100 square feet. Today it houses nearly 55,000 items, a dedicated Delmarva Collection of regional history materials, free museum passes, and the Creativebug creative-arts platform, all supported by an independent Board of Trustees.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Delaware's first free public library — opened May 20, 1848, accessible to women and children from its very first day
- Named for two benefactors: Dr. James Corbit (founding bequest, 1847) and Leslie Calloway (land & funds for the 1968 building)
- Current brick colonial building on High Street opened May 20, 1968 — exactly 120 years to the day after the original opening
- Delmarva Collection dedicated to the history and culture of the Delmarva Peninsula — a regional research resource
- Free museum passes available for checkout, plus Creativebug for 1,000+ art and craft video classes
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Corbit-Calloway cardholders access Delaware's digital collections and creative resources free with a library card:
📚 Services
- Free museum passes available for checkout with a library card
- Delmarva Collection — regional history materials for the Delmarva Peninsula
- Public computers, wireless printing (Princh) & free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room available for community booking
- Reference and genealogy research assistance
- Homework help via UDLibSearch
- Ask a Librarian reference service
- Digital library card signup and account services
- Interlibrary loan through the Delaware Library Catalog
🎸 Programs
- Children's programs and events
- Teen programming
- Adult programs and community events
- Chess club
- Volunteer opportunities
- Seasonal community events (e.g., Halloween in the Park)
- Book donations accepted to support the collection
📍 Nearby Libraries in New Castle County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Corbit-Calloway called Delaware's first free public library?
When Dr. James Corbit's charitable bequest funded the library's opening on May 20, 1848, it was free and open to all community members — including women and children — a rarity for the era. That makes it Delaware's first free public library by date of opening.
Who are Corbit and Calloway, and why is the library named for both?
Dr. James Corbit was the Odessa physician whose 1847 estate gift created the library. Leslie Calloway was a later Odessa resident who donated the land and funding for the brick colonial building that opened on High Street on May 20, 1968 — exactly 120 years after the original opening. The library formally adopted the dual name at that 1968 reopening.
What is the Delmarva Collection?
The Delmarva Collection is the library's dedicated archive of materials related to the history and culture of the Delmarva Peninsula — the land mass of Delaware, Maryland's Eastern Shore and Virginia's Eastern Shore. It's a go-to resource for local history and genealogy research in the Odessa and New Castle County area.
Does Corbit-Calloway Library offer museum passes?
Yes. The library offers free museum passes that cardholders can check out. Visit corbitcalloway.lib.de.us or call (302) 378-8838 to check current pass availability and which institutions are included.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 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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