For three-quarters of a century, the San Marco Library has been a steward for its community, enriching lives through programming, special events and, of course, being a place to find and enjoy a good book to read. 2025 marks the branch’s 75th anniversary and as it rolls out celebrations and events denoting its milestone anniversary, we look back at its impact on and importance to the community it serves.
After the annexation of South Jacksonville by the city of Jacksonville in the 1930s, the San Marco Branch Library, originally called Southside Branch Library, opened its doors to residents on Jan. 3, 1950. Throughout 2025, the library is celebrating its 75 years of serving San Marco with events and activities in recognition of its important role in the community.
The library operated for more than 50 years before being renovated and reopened in 2003. The $1.8 million renovation was the first library funded under the Better Jacksonville Plan and expanded the 7,450 square-foot library to 11,400 square feet. The renovation also included the addition of the new Balis Community Center for a total of 19,000 square feet. The community center was funded by a private donation from the Balis family of San Marco.
The Art in Public Places Ordinance funded $11,500 worth of art displayed in the community center’s lobby. Jerry Smith, a San Marco painter, created an 8-foot by 9-foot acrylic painting depicting a woman with an umbrella standing by the St. Johns River when a sudden gust of wind from an incoming storm that catches the umbrella and causes pages from her book to fly into the sky.
The year-long celebration was kicked off with a Forward Thinking discussion program on Jan. 11 in the Balis Community Center. Three panelists, local author Dorothy K. Fletcher; Robin Robinson, chair of the San Marco Preservation Society committee for historic resources; and Tracy Thompson with the San Marco Merchants Association, joined moderator Kelsi Hayden, copywriter/editor for ModernCities.com, TheJaxsonMag.org and WJCT. After their discussion, Library Director Tim Rogers read a proclamation from the city designating January 2025 as the start of the library’s 75th year.
A second discussion program, this time a ticketed event featuring Jacksonville Historian Dr. Wayne Wood, is scheduled for May 8.
On Saturday, June 7, at 11 a.m., in the Balis Community Center, Jimmy Orth, executive director of St. Johns Riverkeeper, will present how and why the San Marco Library bioswale was installed. St. Johns Riverkeeper and numerous partners collaborated in 2012 to install Jacksonville’s first bioswale along Lasalle Street in front of the San Marco Library. A bioswale collects storm water runoff from roads, rooftops and parking lots and uses soil and plants to remove pollution before the water reaches the St. Johns River.
Jacksonville Public Library is commemorating the 75th anniversary of San Marco Branch Library with a Call for Memories. Residents are welcome to donate photos of themselves and their family enjoying the library and contribute library stories to the Memories project.
The San Marco Branch Library’s anniversary year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the San Marco community. You can help the library tell San Marco’s story through its Neighborhood Photo Project. Donate in person or email digital copies to [email protected] photos of historic buildings, churches, parks, landmarks, parades, ceremonies and other places, people and events important to San Marco’s rich history. Visit the San Marco Memories Exhibit in the glass case display at the San Marco Branch Library.
The Jacksonville Public Library is eager to help residents preserve their old photographs or home movies on VHS, 8mm, 16mm or Super8 film. You can use one of eight digitization stations to transfer them to a digital format that you can store and share online. Interested parties can visit the Memory Lab.during the Main Library’s regular library hours in Special Collections on the fourth floor. Residents need to be library card holders; it takes just two minutes to sign up for free online or in person. Guest passes and non-resident cards are also available for a fee. Reservations are not required; however, you can call the Memory Lab at (904) 255-BOOK to make sure a digitization station is available and get questions answered.
Book a one-on-one appointment with a Special Collections librarian at the Main Library for services like genealogy research, map tours and digitizing analog films. These services require staff assistance in the Special Collections department at the Main Library. You can complete the form at jaxpubliclibrary.org/services/memory-lab or call the library to connect with a staff person.
