Zarrow Regional Library

Red Fork Branch Library was the precursor to Zarrow Regional Library in West Tulsa. Opened in 1923, the library was located in the upstairs of Red Fork City Hall at 2628 W. 40th Pl. Violet Williams was the first librarian. Voters approved a $40,000 bond issue in 1941, part of which was designated to build a new standalone library for Red Fork. World War II delayed construction for 10 years, but in 1951 the long-awaited Red Fork Library opened at 2310 W. 41st St. on a site donated by the Clinton Family Estate. Mae Swafford was the librarian from 1951 until her retirement in 1972. Betty Kennedy succeeded Mrs. Swafford as Library Manager until 1992.

By 1963, the Red Fork branch was remodeled to twice its original size. Red Fork Library closed in 1981 and reopened in its current location, 2224 W. 51st St., as the West Regional Library. Designed by Imel-Graber Architects, the 9,545 sq ft facility was the third of four regional libraries to open in Tulsa County, provided shelving for 40,000 books, and boasted a 150-seat auditorium. Opening day festivities included jousting and a hot air balloon launch. A medieval-themed stained glass window designed by artist Richard Bohm accented the front desk area and remains a focal point of the library today.

A tornado damaged West Regional Library in May 1999, taking off the meeting room roof though damage to the rest of the building was minimal. The new roof, exterior repairs, and painting gave the library a fresh look and paved the way for a future renovation.

In 2003, the library underwent a renovation and expansion, adding 5,000 sq ft for a larger library service area and a Teen Center. Designed by Dewberry, the remodeled library opened in October 10, 2004 as the Henry Zarrow Regional Library in recognition of a very special gentleman and dedicated supporter of the Tulsa City-County Library. The bison statue in front of the library is named "Mr. Henry the Reading Buff" in honor of Mr. Zarrow. In 2005, the Zarrow family donated "Storytime for Two," a bronze sculpture by local artist Rosalind Cook, in remembrance of Mr. Zarrow's late wife, Anne. 

In 2013, Zarrow Regional Library welcomed the American Indian Resource Center and Coordinator Teresa Runnels: https://www.tulsalibrary.org/research/american-indian-resource-center.  

Red Fork Library Managers
Violet Williams
Helen Ware
Mae Swafford 1951-1972
Betty Kennedy 1972-1981

West Regional Library Managers
Betty Kennedy 1981-1992
Laurie Sundborg 1992-1995
Barry Hensley 1995-2004

Zarrow Regional Library Managers
Barry Hensley 2004-2017
Ellen Cummings 2017-2022
Kelly Bayles 2022-Present

TCCL's American Indian Resource Center (AIRC) has provided 20 years of service to the Tulsa and wider area community through cultural, educational, and informational services and activities that highlight American Indian cultures.

As one of the only centers of its kind in the nation, the AIRC was born in 2003 from what had been TCCL's American Indian Collection. The expansion of the collection into the AIRC brought with it display areas and programming space to highlight the center's collections and programs, such as the Festival of Words Writer Award program. In 2012, the AIRC moved to its current home at Zarrow Regional Library, where the community has access to more than 4,000 collection items by and about American Indians, including historical and rare materials, new releases, films, and music. 

https://www.tulsalibrary.org/research/american-indian-resource-center