Editing Polk County, Florida (section)

====History====
[[File:Polk County History Center.jpg|alt=Large, white government building photographed from across the street|thumb|291x291px|Polk County History Center where the Genealogical Library is located.]]
The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library was established in 1937, and opened to the public in January 1940. The library was first located in the office of the county attorney and its holdings were all housed in a metal bookcase. Since then, the library has been housed in several different locations within the old Polk County Courthouse. In 1968, the library hired its first full-time employee. By 1974, the library added a second employee and was moved to a new location on Hendry Street. In 1987, the library relocated back to the 1908 Courthouse.

It was renovated during a 10-year process that included expansion to take over and adapt all three floors of the eastern wing of the courthouse. As of 2013, the library is located in the east wing of the historical courthouse in Bartow. It is governed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners and administered by the Neighborhood Services Department and the Leisure Services Division. The library holds one of the largest genealogical and historical collections in the Southeastern United States.<ref name="About Us">{{cite web
| url = http://library.mypclc.org/historical/about-us
| title = About Us
| access-date = August 9, 2013
| publisher = Polk County Library Cooperative
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131027132431/http://library.mypclc.org/historical/about-us
| archive-date = October 27, 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>