Library service in the Martinsville and Henry County area began when a twenty member Martinsville Women's Club conceived the idea to buy books to be circulated during the year 1913 and then donate them to form a library. It was located on the first floor of City Hall (pictured at right), moved to the second floor, and finally in 1928 the third floor. In 1931, local citizens formed the Library Association, charging $1.00 annually for membership rights. The Martinsville Branch offered its first public Internet workstation in the second half of 1996. In 2008, there are fifteen of these workstations and seven more children and adult computers in use for educational games and word processing needs. From June 2008 to June 2009, we have circulated over 204,000 items, answered over 18,500 reference questions, and served 147,765 patrons and guests.