A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
MIMS/SCOTTSMOOR LIBRARY
Have you noticed the sign above the large meeting room in our library? It proclaims:The
Friends Horner and Katrick Room. That sign honors June Horner and JoAnn Katrick, two
energetic women who devoted manyyearsof work to achieving their admirable goal of having a
public library in the Mims/Scottsmoor area.
Mr. and Mrs. Horner, along with Mr. and Mrs. Katrick, knew that they faced quite a struggle.
According to library records and newspaper articles, June Horner initiated efforts to obtain a
library. Mr. and Mrs. Horner were patrons of Titusville Library, but that was a long drive away.
After speaking with Kathryn Stewart (Director of Library Services for Brevard County) and
gaining the support of prominent businessman Mr. Frank Buckoski, a meeting was arranged with
Mr. Scarborough (County Commissioner for District I) in Sept. 1993.
To show community support for a library, petitions were placed at dozens of businesses, schools,
and churches. Mrs. Katrick helped Mrs. Horner distribute and collect petitions. On Nov. 16,
1993, Mr. Buckoski, Mrs. Horner, and Mrs. Katrick appeared before the County Commissioners
with petitions with 1700 signatures.
After gaining permission to proceed, this committee of three held monthly meetings, organized
fundraisers, and established the "Friends of the Library" (a non-profit organization). June
Horner was president of the Friends. A letter on March 23, 1995, written by JoAnn Katrick,
Secretary of the Friends of the Community Library Center of Mims/Scottsmoor, detailed efforts
to raise funds for paperwork fees; to establish the library on Pinewood Elementary campus so
property would not have to be purchased; and to find modular units to house the library. Further,
JoAnn described a Friends Membership Drive, and invited everyone to attend a Used Book Sale
Fundraiser to be held on April 29 and 30, 1995. The letter ended with a request for community
members to send letters supporting the library to County Commissioners.
That their efforts to gain community support for a new N. Brevard Library were successful is
shown by the results.
In Sept. 1996, the County Commission allocated $105,000 to move the units from Titusville to
the campus of Pinewood Elementary School.
A Florida Today editorial, Jan. 27, 1998 noted: "Having a county public library in their
community will be convenient, especially for avid readers and students, and the education center
should serve as a focal point for a variety of activities in the Mims/Scottsmoor area. All those
involved in the project have reason to be proud of the progress made so far. Now the county and
school district should press on and get the new facility up and running this summer."
The Mims/Scottsmoor Community Library opened for business on December 15, 1998, followed
by a grand opening ceremony on January 9. According to aStar-Advocatearticle on Dec. 23,
1998, the library and education center was composed of 24 modular units (trailers) moved from
the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office in Titusville to the campus of Pinewood.
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