Purcell Public Library

About the Town of Purcell

Frequently Asked Questions - Purcell

Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 April 2009 11:03

Purcell, Oklahoma is an active town with an official population of 5,571 people. It is located in central Oklahoma South of Oklahoma City along Interstate-35. Purcell is the county seat of McClain County and sits on the border between McClain County and Cleveland County.

The area was originally settled by Chickasaws who raised cattle, horses and hogs on the land beside the South Canadian river. In 1887, Purcell was founded on land overlooking the South Canadian River, as a railroad station. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroads all passed through the area. The town is named in honor of ATSF railroad director Edward Benton (E.B.) Purcell, of Manhattan, Kansas.

As the town grew many now historic buildings were built. The Love Hotel, which is listed on the National Historic register, holds many memories of the past and is still in operation. Purcell also played an important role in Oklahoma's statehood. On September 30, 1893 representatives from Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory held the first meetings for single statehood at the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church at 319 West Washington. A model of the church can be found in the McClain County Historical Society & Museum at 203 West Washington.

Today, the vibrant town of Purcell offers multiple tourist attractions, opportunities for businesses, and a great lifestyle for its residents.  The Chamber of Commerce website "The Heart of Oklahoma" offers information for tourists, current residents, and potential residents on working, playing and living in the Purcell area. There are festivals, antique shops, restaurants, real estate, and horse ranch tours.

For information on the city's public services and departments, the "City of Purcell" website is the place to visit.   Here you can find information in the municipal court, police and fire departments, and animal shleter. A database of Hillside Cemetary records is also available.

If you are interested in living in Purcell or already a resident and have children, check out the school disrtict's website.  Find information on schools, athletics, and educational tools.  For more information on the Purcell schools, visit the Academic performance index (API) and Accountability Report Cards provided by the state as part of the "No Child Left Behind" initiative.

Check out the Pioneer Library System's Gathering Days album on Flickr for more historic photos of Purcell.  Comments about the people or places pictured are appreciated, so share your stories.

Joining the Purcell Friends Group

Frequently Asked Questions - Purcell

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 10:48

About the Purcell Friends of the Library

We welcome new members of the Friends, and appreciate your interest in joining us in support of our library. The Purcell Friends of the Library assist the Purcell Library by volunteering, serving as community ambassadors, assisting library staff with special projects, and providing financial assistance for a wide range of library needs, from providing snacks for after school children’s programs, underwriting the cost of summer reading program presentations, to regularly purchasing new toys for the preschool area in the library and funding continuing education classes for staff members.

The Board of the Friends meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month, at 11 am. Contact the Branch Manager of the library for current details if you would like to attend.

To join the Friends, click to print out the membership form, and bring to the library or mail to:
Friends of the Purcell Library
919 N 9th
Purcell OK 73080.

Book Sales

The Purcell Friends hold two sales annually. Community members are always appreciated to assist the Friends in sorting and serving during the sale. Call the library at 527-5546 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to volunteer.

Contact

President Barbara Lawson 449-3165
V-P Gene Harryman 527-2834
Membership Julie Owens 527-6503

If you would be interested in volunteering to help with an upcoming Friends book sale, call the library today!

When is the book sale?

Frequently Asked Questions - Purcell

Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 December 2007 15:50

What are the rules for using the Purcell Library meeting room?

Frequently Asked Questions - Purcell

Last Updated on Monday, 01 August 2011 11:23

Purcell Public Library Meeting Room Policy

• No charge is made, however, use of the room is subject to the following conditions:
• No admission shall be charged for any activity in the meeting room
• No services or products may be bought by or sold to the public, unless the organization is affiliated with the library
• Chair and table setup are the responsibility of the user. At the end of the use of the room, chairs and tables must be returned to their original locations.
• Food may be served, but the group is responsible for clean up in the kitchen and in the room as posted
• Groups are responsible for the disposal of all food and the deposit of garbage in bags and containers. Groups may request the use of the vacuum and other cleaning supplies and are expected to clean the floor and all tables and to leave the room in a clean condition ready to be used by the next patrons.
• Groups are responsible for the condition of the facilities and the care of all building equipment used.
• If any damage or loss occurs, the group using the room must pay for the repair or replacement of the item(s).
• No alcohol, smoking, tobacco use, illegal substances, or firearms use permitted. No Silly String allowed. Illegal behavior is not allowed and the Behavior Guidelines for the Use of the Library will be enforced for meeting room users.
• The meeting room may be reserved for groups and individuals during the hours that the public library is open.

Click here to access the online Meeting Room Request Calendar