Standing beside Heroes Square in the heart of George Town, the George Town Public Library is one of the Cayman Islands’ most recognisable historic civic buildings and has served generations of Caymanians as a place of learning and discovery.
The dedicated library building was completed in 1939 and opened to the public in 1940. It was one of a series of important public buildings constructed by Captain Rayal Bodden, the renowned Caymanian shipbuilder and craftsman whose work helped shape central George Town.
One of the library’s most distinctive features reflects Bodden’s maritime background. Its timbered ceiling was designed to resemble the inverted hull of a ship, bringing the skills and traditions of Caymanian shipbuilding into the architecture of a public building.
For generations of Caymanians, the library became far more than a place to borrow books. It provided children and adults with access to reading material, reference works and information that could otherwise be difficult to obtain. Long before the internet, it offered a window onto the wider world and became an important place for study and lifelong learning.
The library continued to develop with the needs of its community. During librarian Iva Panton’s 14½ years of service, a children’s corner was established, the reference library was upgraded, books were catalogued and a proper registration and membership-card system was introduced. The building itself was also renovated and air conditioning installed.
Hurricane Ivan caused serious damage to the library in 2004, completely destroying its reference and biography collections. Extensive renovation followed, including a new roof, shelving and other improvements, while the building’s distinctive ship-inspired ceiling was preserved. The library reopened in 2006.
In 2009, the new three-storey Maples Wing opened, adding 12,000 square feet of space as well as computers, a children’s section, conference facilities and an expanded collection of books and reference materials.
Today, the George Town Public Library remains an important part of Cayman’s civic and cultural landscape. Generations have passed through its doors to read, study and discover new ideas, making it an enduring symbol of Cayman’s commitment to education, literacy and lifelong learning.
Did You Know?
- The building was completed in 1939.
- It is one of the early purpose-built public library buildings in the Cayman Islands.
- The library supported the growth of literacy and education on the islands.
- It remains an active public service building today.