The Friends were organized in 1985 at the urging of a number of residents who have a love of libraries, a belief that libraries represent the best in community life, and a conviction that the city of Port Orange should have its own library. The Friends group was instrumental in Port Orange becoming a branch of the county-wide network of libraries. The original Friends lobbied for a library when ci
ty government still occupied what is now the Port Orange Civic Center. In 1984, we were successful in obtaining the first library, located in a store-front in the Riverwood Shopping Center. On June 23, 1984, the Port Orange Library was dedicated in the name of Darrel Kreighbaum, a City Manager (August 1, 1982 to March 24, 1984) who emphasized being kind, considerate, and fair in our dealings with others. This tribute to Darrel and his family, his wife Phyllis and children Kyle and Kara, is a symbol of the important part Darrel played in improving the quality of life for the citizens of Port Orange. The Friends showed their support by volunteering, and holding book sales to buy additional library materials. In 1985, the library was invited to occupy the second floor of City Hall until such time as the library and/or the City needed more space. In the intervening years since relocation to City Center, the library was designated one of six regional libraries within the county system. In 1996, the library moved into its new 25,000 square feet state of the art facility. The library houses 100,000+ items and includes a beautiful children's room and a large auditorium. The Friends and Staff look forward to continuing to give to the community what it has become accustomed to: a warm and congenial atmosphere, personal, friendly service, and the latest in information and retrieval technologies.
