Library History

William Simms, superintendent of the city schools, organizes a high school library in the West Building.

First Greenfield High School graduating class canvasses the city to collect books.

First library association formed: George S. Wilson, president; Crissie Gilchrist, vice-president; Jessie Randall, secretary; Thomas Mitchell, corresponding secretary; Josie Tague, treasurer; Eddie Thayer, Lenna Gwinn and William Atherton, executive committee.

New high school construction completed at Pennsylvania and North Streets.

Interested citizens meet at the high school to discuss ways and means of establishing a new library. A committee of 12 is selected by the president of the meeting, E. E. Stoner, to solicit $1,000 in funds. The high school cadet band makes its first appearance at this meeting.

A committee is appointed to select books: Lee Harris, Charles Bruner, William Hough, Mrs. Ephriam Marsh, Mrs. Blanche McNew, Mrs. George Duncan. New library is established on the first floor of the high school building. Minnie Hughes becomes the first librarian. 

Library contains 2,030 volumes.

School Board members J.W. Harrell, George Cooper, and Samuel Offutt apply to Andrew Carnegie for funding of a separate library building and receive $10,000. George Cooper donates the land as a memorial to his mother, Melissa Cooper.

Carnegie building is completed and occupied by the library.

Greenfield School Board turns the library over to the City of Greenfield. Library is re-named "City of Greenfield and Center Township Library."

Library contains 15,459 volumes.

The board discusses the possibility of county-wide service to defray operating costs now that they are carried entirely by Greenfield taxpayers. Center Township library patrons are no longer entitled to free library service. They must now pay an annual fee.

Books and materials are loaned to hospital patients. The library also serves as an information bureau, answering unusual questions, including those formulated on television quiz shows. Sputnik has created an interest in science books among children.

The "Friends of the Library" meet to form their organization.

The library moves to a new, 16,400-square-foot, $1.4 million building at 700 N. Broadway Street.

The New Palestine Community Library opens at the Mary M. Nichols Building. It originally opened as a volunteer library, and was not yet supported by public funds. 

In a referendum, the vast majority of rural Hancock County residents ask for full library privileges.

The first computer is made available for patron use.

The Gaylord online catalog system is introduced and replaces the traditional card catalog. 

Plans proceed to add dial-up-access service to allow patrons with computers to scan the library’s catalogue from home. A Macintosh computer has been added to the children’s department, with programs that allow the user to walk through a zoo or play inside books.

A task group meets to discuss a practical plan to extend library service to the entire county.

Computers for Internet access are made available to the public.

Indiana Senator Beverly Gard authors Senate Bill 166 which would amend current restrictions on the use of County Economic Development Tax (CEDIT) revenues so that CEDIT dollars would be used to replace library expenses that are now paid by property taxes, with the stipulation that patrons be allowed to share library materials between districts. The bill will be sponsored by Bob Cherry and Scott Mellinger in the House. The idea for using this tax as a means for county-wide expansion was originally suggested by County Commissioner Armin Apple.

The Sugar Creek Township branch in New Palestine officially opens its doors as a Greenfield-Sugar Creek Township Public Library branch. The library location remained the Nichols Building.

The Hancock County commissioners create a county-library taxing district, entitling all residents of Hancock County to library service.

The Techmobile is christened. Funded by Lilly’s CAPE Grant, this techmobile takes technology to all of Hancock County.

The new Sugar Creek Branch opens at 5087 W. US 52.

Wireless network enables patrons to use their laptops to access the Internet and the library's card catalog.

After settling on an expansion plan, The HCPL Board breaks ground for a new main building at McKenzie Road and Fortville Pike in Greenfield.

The new library, located at 900 W McKenzie, opens its doors to the public.

Lightning strikes the library’s roof over the Local History and Genealogy Room, but the fire is contained between the roof and ceiling and is quickly put out by the Greenfield Fire Dept. with minimal damage. Firefighters take the time to cover historical materials with a tarp so that none are lost.

The Library begins tagging the entire collection with RFID tags for better sorting, improved control over inventory, and faster turn-around time for returned materials.

Techmobile is retired, replaced by a Sprinter Van Bookmobile.

A donation of $3.2 million was given to the Library by the Estate of Dr. Ralph and Grace Rea. Ralph was a local family physician and passed away in 2015. Grace was a registered nurse and passed away in 2008. The donation helped to fund the construction of the Sugar Creek Branch in New Palestine.

The Sugar Creek Branch, Dr. Ralph and Grace Rea Memorial Building opens at 5731 W. US 52, New Palestine. 

The Library adds a Ford Transit van to be used for outreach services and home deliveries.