About the Library
The Rome/Floyd County Library is headquarters for the Sara Hightower Regional Library system which serves Floyd and Polk Counties.Associated members include
Cave Spring Public Library,
Rockmart Public Library,
Cedartown Public Library.
Mission & Vision
Our Mission: The Sara Hightower Regional Library's mission is to provide organized access to meet the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural information needs.
Our Vision: The Sara Hightower Regional Library's vision is to be the community's universal access point for information including printed materials, local databases, and the internet.
Who was Sara Hightower?
Sara Hightower was born on April 14, 1911, in Cedartown, Georgia. She received her BA degree from the teacher's college of the University of Georgia in 1928. She taught in Polk and Floyd County Schools and played an instrumental role in creating libraries throughout the Floyd County School system.
After receiving her Masters of Library Science from Emory University in 1947, Sara initiated Bookmobile services in Floyd County while still overseeing the school library program for the county school system. She played an instrumental role in creating the Regional Library System that included Floyd, Polk, and Bartow counties. The Tri-County Regional Library System delivered books to citizens throughout the rural parts of Georgia. Sara Hightower's name became synonymous with public library services. Sara's services were recognized when she received the
first Nix-Jones Award and was elected President of the Georgia Library Association in 1953.
Even after retirement, Sara remained an active member of several library boards and her dedication was further recognized when a new Regional Library System consisting of Floyd and Polk counties was named the Sara Hightower Regional Library in 1980.
Literally thousands of former school children and bookmobile patrons were on a firstname basis with Sara. She is considered to be a true pioneer in bringing library services to all citizens of this area. When Sara died on April 8, 1991, the world lost one of those unique people who dedicated her life to serving others.