Winterville, Georgia is the only municipality located wholly within Athens-Clarke County. Incorporated in 1904, Winterville began as a railroad town, or a wood and water station for the Georgia Railroad, which used to pass through town.
Today the renovated train depot serves as a meeting place and houses the mayor’s office. Together with a church, a bookstore, a doctor’s museum, the police station, an old renovated bank building, a park, a church, a walking trail and the Winterville Library, the buildings make up the charming town center.
On any given day the Winterville Librarian can look out the window and see people making their way to the Saturday Marigold Market in Pittard Park, button-holing the mayor, walking their dogs or jogging along the Firefly Trail, named from the old locomotives that threw “fireflies” into the air. Patrons come to the library by car, by foot, by bicycle, roller skates, strollers, and/or riding in a little red wagon.
Winterville Library is an active part of the local community. The Branch Manager attends the monthly meetings of City Council. The Front Porch BookStore provides financial assistance for materials and events.
On a regular basis the library displays art, conducts a story time, hosts an evening and a daytime book club, maintains a pollinator garden, and provides up-to-date and current materials for patrons. There are computers, a printer, and a fax machine. Laptops and mobile hotspots are available for check-out along with state park, puppet theater, museum and zoo passes.
Now second generation story time attendees are bringing their own children to Wednesday Story Time to sing, listen and create crafts. Winterville Library fully embraces the system’s philosophy of Engaging Communities and Exceeding Expectations.