Palestine Public Library Collapse

In July and September of 2009, Palestine Public Library suffered two separate roof collapses which resulted in the emergency relocation of over 80,000 items and the condemnation of the collapsed building where the library has been located since the 1980s.

The library's website states the following mission statement: "The Palestine Public Library provides library service for Palestine and Anderson County residents. The library enables children and adults to have access to ideas, information, experiences, and materials in a variety of formats that support and enrich the lives of all members of the community. The Library creates an environment for all residents to learn, to explore, to enjoy, to create, to connect, and to be inspired."

In 2010, the City of Palestine purchased The Palestine Mall with plans to renovate a large space that will serve as the new permanent home of the library. With this purchase also comes the addition of a pilot grant program for local students called Summit School and a new Texas State Technical College branch campus to the mall location. The library will act as the physical, on site library for students involved in these educational opportunities.