Clearwater's public library turns 110 Monday, exactly 110 years after a $10,000 Carnegie Foundation grant helped open the city's first free library.

Market Marie Opens Anniversary Weekend Saturday

The celebration caps a weekend that begins Saturday, when the Market Marie outdoor market fills Coachman Park with more than 130 small-business vendors, according to the city's event listing. The monthly second-Saturday market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 300 Cleveland St. and features live music, food, art, clothing, jewelry, handmade candles, soap, pet treats and home goods. Admission is free.

The Clearwater Downtown Development Board sponsors the market and approved up to $30,000 in high-impact funding for monthly Market Marie events running June 2026 through May 2027, according to board records from its April 20 meeting.

Carnegie Legacy Event Set for Monday Evening

Two days later, the library takes center stage. "Celebrating 110 Years: The Carnegie Legacy Continues" runs 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave. The event is free and open to all ages, according to the city's event page.

Library's Roots Trace Back to 1916

The date is no accident. Clearwater's first public library opened on Sept. 14, 1916, with Margaret Duncan as its first librarian, according to the library's history page. The city provided land and operational funding to match the Carnegie grant.

Before the Carnegie library, residents relied on the Clearwater Library Association, a subscription library founded in 1911.

Current Building Opened Near Coachman Park in 2004

The current Main Library building opened May 1, 2004, after voters approved construction bonds in July 2000. The five-story, 92,332-square-foot facility sits on the eastern border of Coachman Park, the waterfront park completed in 2023 that includes the 4,000-seat BayCare Sound amphitheater operated by Ruth Eckerd Hall.

The library system now serves roughly 134,000 residents across five branches.

Upcoming Community Dates

  • Saturday, Sept. 12: The Market Marie, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St. Free. Contact: (727) 667-3060 or TheMarketMarie.com.
  • Monday, Sept. 14: Celebrating 110 Years: The Carnegie Legacy Continues, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave. Free, all ages.
  • Saturday, Oct. 10: Next Market Marie, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Coachman Park. Free.