Rudisill Regional Library History
Library service in north Tulsa dates back to 1924 and the Greenwood Branch. In 1932 the North Boston Branch opened. It was replaced by the Apache Circle Branch in 1963. Both Apache Circle and Greenwood closed when Seminole Hills opened in 1967. Mrs. Freddie Rudisill was the librarian there.
In 1976 the staff and the collection from Seminole Hills opened the North Regional Library. Upon the death of Mrs. Rudisill in 1979, the library’s name was changed to honor her. Keith Jemison became the Rudisill Library Manager.
Charles Ward designed the building for the City of Tulsa, as a Model Cities Project. The Project housed the library at one end and several social service agencies at the other. In August of 1985 the City deeded the property to the Library System. Several of the social service agencies had moved, giving the library services more space. Later, the Library’s Outreach Services was moved into the north end. It became the home of the recording Volunteers group, who made tapes for the blind.
The genealogy service was moved from Central to Rudisill in July, 1990, at the completion of a renovation project. It occupied about 1,000 sq. ft. and provided ample free parking. It drew people from all over Oklahoma and surrounding states. Due to its popularity and outgrowing the space available, the services moved to the new Schusterman-Benson Library in 1997. In its place, an African-American Resource Center was developed, which serves the entire County.
As part of the 1998 Bond Issue program, a 2,900 sq. ft. addition was made to the main library area in 2003, providing more space for the African-American Resource Center and the children’s area. Also the former area used by Outreach Services was completely redone to accommodate a 300-seat auditorium and 3 smaller meeting rooms. The original auditorium was renovated to create small story hour room just of the hallway. Special funding provided the story hour room with an aquarium atmosphere. The room was then named for Jeanne B. Goodwin, in honor for her service to the community and her 100 th birthday. Local artist Cynthia Harris provided a tile mural with an ocean theme in the lobby.