Overdue in Paradise: The Library History of Palm Beach County

For more than a century, Palm Beach County’s libraries have nurtured and shaped Florida’s unique history. From early residents’ efforts to bring literacy and a love of reading to the vast tropical wilderness of the nineteenth century, to modern-day book festivals celebrating the written word, Overdue in Paradise honors Palm Beach County’s individuals, social institutions, and municipal governments that created a culture of literacy in one of Florida’s largest and most prominent regions. Public, academic, and a variety of specialized libraries developed their own distinctive collections, enriching the lives of residents since Florida’s earliest pioneer days. Palm Beach County’s vast collections of books, media, and reference materials are both a cause and result of its cultural diversity, and have left an enduring legacy on residents and visitors alike. Overdue in Paradise: The Library History of Palm Beach County recounts the beginnings of many of South Florida’s earliest libraries. This legacy would not have been possible were it not for the valiant efforts of volunteers, professional librarians, and other community-minded Floridians who relentlessly sought out and obtained the resources needed to create collections that would serve their local communities.