Archer Branch

On Saturday, August 14, 1993, at 3 p.m., the City of Archer celebrated the long-awaited opening of the Archer Branch. It coincided with the Newberry Branch, a sister branch library, opening earlier in the day. Michael Kemp served as the branch manager for both locations, which were previously served with the bookmobile. At a cost of $450,000, the branch was open 20 hours per week with a collection of 10,000 volumes. Fast forward to the 30th Anniversary and a near million-dollar expansion, and the Archer Branch services the town and surrounding residents.

Alachua County’s first “book mobile library” commenced in June of 1949. The bookmobile was “one of the few in Florida and the first in the county.” It was a remodeled old school bus with the Gainesville High School Librarian in charge. It stopped in Archer on Wednesdays, 10 am-noon; however, patrons could flag down it on the regular routes. By 1950, the hours were shortened to accommodate more stops along the route. It was incredibly popular but only ran during the summer months. It was also segregated with two buses traversing the county.

April 1959 brought yearlong bookmobile service to Archer. On the second and fourth weeks of the month, residents could check out materials from the “big blue and white bus stocked with a 2,400 volume collection for all ages.” Within a few decades, bookmobiles operating within Alachua County were desegregated and operating at more locations, thus serving more rural communities.

It took over 30 years for a 3,427 square foot facility to open on 1993. Library service hours expanded from 20 to 39. A full-time staff of 4 provide programming for all ages. The library has undergone several interior renovations and upgrades, and for the 30th anniversary, the branch is undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion. The branch will celebrate a grand re-opening in a 6,313 square foot facility. Although the physical collection will not increase, the branch will have similar amenities like other branches within Alachua County Library District.

The new addition will have:

a quiet reading room
2 study rooms
CreateSpace
a teen room
a designated children's area with a custom mural painted by Gainesville artist Ari Uberti

Come visit and see why the Archer Branch has become the heart of the Archer community.

By Lesia on October 10, 2023