Indianapolis Public Library facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Indianapolis Public Library


Central Library, the Indianapolis Public Library's main branch
Established	1873
Location	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Branches	24
Access and use
Circulation	9,652,945 (2019)
Population served	952,389 (2019)
Other information
Budget	$60,087,318 (2019)
Website	indypl.org

The Indianapolis Public Library is a system of libraries that serves people in Marion County, Indiana, United States. This includes the big city of Indianapolis. The library started in 1873. Today, it has a main building called the Central Library and 24 other branch libraries all over the county. The Central Library is right next to the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza.

How the Library Started and Grew
Central Library Building
- Special Collections at Central Library
Library Branches
Images for kids
See also

How the Library Started and Grew

Memorial Presbyterian Church (around 1873). A sermon here helped start the library idea.

A map from 1898 shows the library's location.

The idea for the Indianapolis Public Library began in 1868. A pastor named Reverend Hanford A. Edson gave a speech asking for a free public library. Because of his speech, 113 people formed the Indianapolis Library Association in 1869.

In 1870, a school leader named Abram C. Shortridge helped make a new law. This law allowed school boards to use taxes to create and run public libraries. This was a big step!

In 1872, the library committee hired William Frederick Poole to start collecting books. They also chose Charles Evans as the first librarian. Indianapolis' first public library opened on April 8, 1873. It was in one room of the Indianapolis High School.

When it opened, the library had 13,000 books. About 500 people signed up to borrow books. In its first year, people borrowed over 100,000 books! As the library grew, it moved to bigger places. It was in the Sentinel Building (1876–1880) and then the Alvord House (1880–1893).

Early Leaders and New Branches

Charles Evans was the librarian from 1873 to 1878, and again from 1889 to 1892. Other early librarians included Albert B. Yohn, Arthur W. Tyler, and William deM. Hooper.

Eliza G. Browning took over in 1892 and led the library until 1917. During her time, the library moved into its first building made just for a library in 1893. This building was at Ohio and Meridian streets. In 1906, the first branch library opened on Clifton Street.

Between 1910 and 1914, five more library branches were built. A famous businessman, Andrew Carnegie, donated $120,000 for these buildings. Today, two of these libraries, East Washington and Spades Park, are still open. Before she left, Eliza Browning started plans for a new Central Library. Part of the land for this new library was given by poet James Whitcomb Riley in 1911.

Growing Collections and Services

Charles E. Rush became the librarian in 1917. He was followed by Luther L. Dickerson (1927–1944) and Marian McFadden (1944–1955). During these years, eight new branch libraries opened. The library also started collecting new things like films, newspapers on microfilm, and music records. In 1952, the library began offering bookmobile service. This meant books could travel to people!

Harold J. Sander was the director from 1956 to 1971. Under his leadership, ten more new branch libraries opened. In 1960, the Central Library was reorganized to make services easier to find.

Before 1966, the library only served parts of Indianapolis. Many people in Marion County didn't have free library access. From 1966 to 1968, the Marion County Public Library Board worked with the Indianapolis Public Library to serve more people. In 1968, the city and county library systems joined together. This created the Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library. It now served almost all residents of Marion County.

Modern Changes and Expansion

Raymond E. Gnat became the library director in 1972. Between 1982 and 1991, important library services became computerized. By the early 1990s, the library system had 21 branches and three bookmobiles. People borrowed about seven million items each year! The library had nearly 1.7 million items and 410 full-time staff.

Ed Szynaka was director from 1994 to 2003. During his time, eight branch libraries were improved. The Broad Ripple Branch moved to the Glendale Town Center. In 2000, the Glendale Branch opened there. It was the first full-service library in a major shopping center in the U.S.

Jackie Nytes became the library's chief executive officer in 2012. In 2013, the library had 4.3 million visits and loaned out 15.9 million items. In 2014, the library board got approval to use $58.5 million to fix up old branches and build new ones. In 2016, the Beech Grove public library joined the Indianapolis system. This made it the 23rd branch.

Central Library Building


Central Library (Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Front of Central Library from the American Legion Mall
Location in Indianapolis Show map of Indianapolis Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, Indiana
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1917
Architect	Paul Cret; Borie and Medary Zantzinger
NRHP reference No.	75000045
Added to NRHP	August 28, 1975

A drawing from 1913 showing the south side of the Central Library.

The Central Library building was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret. It was built in a Greek Doric style. The outside is made of Indiana limestone on a Vermont marble base. The Central Library opened on October 8, 1917.

The Central Library has many beautiful design features. The main reading room is 100 feet (30 m) long and 45 feet (14 m) wide. It has two marble staircases and two large bronze light fixtures. The ceiling has special designs and pictures showing early Indiana history. Reading rooms upstairs have wood panels and big stained-glass windows. The Central Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

The Central Library has been expanded and updated many times. An addition was finished in 1975. The historic parts of the building were restored in the 1980s. In 2001, a plan was made to renovate the old building and add a new six-story section. This new section would have curved glass and steel. It would connect to the old building and include an underground parking garage. This big project cost $104 million. The renovated Central Library opened on December 9, 2007.

Special Collections at Central Library

The Central Library has special collections for different topics.

Indianapolis Special Collections Room

This room is named after Nina Mason Pulliam. It holds many old and special items. These include books by local authors, photos, letters, and more. You can find works by famous writers like Kurt Vonnegut and James Whitcomb Riley here.

Center for Black Literature & Culture

In 2017, the Center for Black Literature & Culture opened. It has about 10,000 books, magazines, DVDs, and e-books. The goal is to grow this collection to 40,000 items. The center also has banners honoring local Black figures. These include basketball player Tamika Catchings and Congresswoman Julia Carson.

Chris Gonzalez Collection

In 2019, the library opened the Chris Gonzalez Collection. This collection is named after LGBTQ activist Christopher T. Gonzalez. It has over 6,000 items about local and national LGBTQ+ history.

Library Branches

Besides the Central Library, the Indianapolis Public Library system has 24 branch libraries. It also offers bookmobile services.

Some branches have recently moved or opened new buildings. The Eagle Branch and Martindale–Brightwood Branch reopened in new buildings in 2019 and 2020. The new Michigan Road Branch opened in 2018. Two new branches are planned for Perry Township and Lawrence, Indiana in 2021. A new building for the Glendale Branch will be ready in 2022.

Branch name	Year established	Address
Beech Grove Branch	1951 (absorbed in 2016)	1102 Main Street, Beech Grove, Indiana 46107
College Avenue Branch	1924 (relocated in 2000)	4180 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
Decatur Branch	1967	5301 Kentucky Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46221
Eagle Branch	1960 (relocated in 2019)	3905 Moller Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46254
East 38th Street Branch	1957 (relocated in 2003)	5420 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46218
East Washington Branch	1911	2822 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46201
Fort Benjamin Harrison Branch	2021	under construction
Franklin Road Branch	1969	5550 South Franklin Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46239
Garfield Park Branch	1918 (relocated in 1965)	2502 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46203
Glendale Branch	1930 (relocated in 2000)	Glendale Town Center 6101 North Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
Haughville Branch	1896 (relocated in 2003)	2121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222
InfoZone Branch	2000	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
Irvington Branch	1903 (relocated in 2001)	5625 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219
Lawrence Branch	1967	7898 North Hague Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46256
Martindale–Brightwood Branch	1901 (relocated in 2020)	2434 North Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46218
Michigan Road Branch	2018	6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Nora Branch	1971	8625 Guilford Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
Pike Branch	1967 (relocated in 1986)	6525 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Southport Branch	1967	2630 East Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227
Spades Park Branch	1912	1801 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46201
Warren Branch	1974	9701 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46229
Wayne Branch	1969	198 South Girls School Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46231
West Indianapolis Branch	1897 (relocated in 1986)	1216 South Kappes Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46221
West Perry Branch	2021	under construction