Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative is the result of a desire on the part of the County’s dedicated representatives, citizens and librarians to create and foster a comprehensive cache of informational resources and materials designed to serve the residents of Okaloosa County.

In 1991, the portion of the Florida Administrative Code dealing with the state aid program was revised to allow a new type of library system referred to as a Library Cooperative. A cooperative type system allows existing municipal libraries to remain autonomous while agreeing to share resources through cooperation and joint planning and benefit from grant monies not available to individual libraries. A committee, chaired by Mary Esther Public Library Director Betty Robertson, was formed to study the feasibility of such a system in Okaloosa County. Both the County and all involved cities worked together on the study, which ultimately concluded that a cooperative system could work successfully in Okaloosa County.

It took approximately two years to complete the above study, but the Okaloosa County Library Board, consisting of officials appointed from the County and each participating municipality, signed the final documents officially establishing the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative (OCPLC). Charter membership began October 1, 1997 with three public libraries on board and leading the way, Robert L. F. Sikes Public Library in Crestview, Mary Esther Public Library and Niceville Library. In October of 1999, Destin Library, Fort Walton Beach Library and Valparaiso Community Library doubled the Cooperative’s potential by joining as new members.

Over the course of this partnership, the Cooperative and its member libraries have made great strides in library service to area residents. All County residents have access to each member library and its programs and resources. The Cooperative brought technology to the libraries with a new automation system and online public access catalog. Technology is supported and encouraged by the Cooperative at each library in an effort to provide the best possible experience for patrons seeking information and knowledge. Training both staff and the public has become an important priority for OCPLC and will continue to expand as our technology needs grow. Programming at the libraries is supplemented with funds from the Cooperative headquarters to expand the possibilities and diversity of programs libraries can offer individually and as partners.

The Cooperative continues to remain dedicated to providing quality library service to the residents of Okaloosa County and surrounding areas now and in the future.