BCPL 125th Anniversary Timeline

The Columbus school board and local women's groups petitioned the City Council to provide space in [Historic] City Hall for a public library. To support this effort, the Columbus school board authorized a levy of 3¢ on $100 to create a fund for a public library. Among the women's clubs that rallied for a public library were the Columbus Culture Club, the Monday Literary Club, and the Orinoco Literary Society.

The Columbus City Council agreed to set aside two rooms in [Historic] City Hall to be used to establish a library. Later that month on February 24, Jennie Elrod was selected as the Librarian.

The Columbus Public Library opened to the public in [Historic] City Hall for the first time. When the library opened in 1899, it served only residents of Columbus. The first book added to the library's collection was "Eight Cousins, Or The Aunt-Hill" by Louisa M. Alcott. It is kept in the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives office for preservation.

On June 1, 1903 the Columbus Public Library) was dedicated. The Columbus Public Library was built in 1903 for $20,000, using $15,000 from the Carnegie Corporation, on land that was donated by Joseph I. Irwin & Harriet C. Irwin, his wife. John W. Gaddis of Vincennes, Indiana was chosen as the architect. When the Columbus Public Library was built, the library collection included 4,500 volumes and was serving the approximately 9,000 residents of Columbus.

For reference, this is the same year that the Wright Brothers had their first flight!

"Country Club Women" push to expand library services by making the Columbus Public Library a free county library and not just a city library. At that time, only Columbus residents can use the library.

Library service was extended to all Bartholomew County residents and the library was renamed the Columbus-Bartholomew County Library.

18 library stations are established in homes and businesses throughout the county, paying individuals to administer them.

On January 28, librarian Lenore Bonham established the Hope branch library inside the Callahan Novelty Store. The Hope branch was the largest library institution outside of the Carnegie Library. Lenore Bonham was the branch librarian, and the collection of 500 books was overseen by Elizabeth J. Callahan.

For reference, this is the same year that 'The Great Gatsby' was published!

Columbus native Cleo Rogers (1906-1964) started working at the library as an assistant librarian in 1927, and was appointed librarian [library director] in 1936. She served as the library director from 1936 until her death in 1964.

The Columbus-Bartholomew County Library celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Later that same year, the library would add the first audiovisual material to the collection: 7 reels of 16-mm film.

County-wide bookmobile service was established in 1959 and the bookmobile made its first trip on May 19, 1959 visiting White Creek, Waymansville, and Jonesville. Librarian and Bookmobile driver William Hamilton can be seen in the photo standing outside the library’s first bookmobile.

For reference, this is the same year that Barbie was created!

The library system has been renamed the Bartholomew County Library & is governed by a seven-member county board of trustees.

I.M. Pei was chosen as the architect for a new library building to be built on property adjacent to the Carnegie library building. The land currently occupied by the Main Library and the Visitors Center was donated to Bartholomew County Public Library by the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation. 

In October 1969, the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, named for longtime librarian Cleo Rogers, was opened and began offering full services to the community for the first time ever.  

The library purchased the first computer for patron use, an Apple IIe. 

For reference, this is the same year that 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson reached number 1 in the US album charts.

A building addition designed by architect James K. Paris in 1987 helped the library to serve the growing community and meet its changing needs. The addition included the popular Indiana Room and a glass atrium that was meant to preserve the feeling of an outdoor space adjacent to the original 1969 building.  

In October, automated circulation, public access terminals, and a dial-up catalog were implemented at the library. 

For reference, this is the same year that the first web search engine was launched!

Planning began for a new Hope Branch Library, and Deborah Berke was selected as the architect.   

The library website "www.barth.lib.in.us" was established and was first available to the public on October 2.

In January, online databases were added to the library website.

For reference, this is the same year that YouTube was launched!

The current Bookmobile was delivered and began serving 40 stops in townships through the county.  

BCPL entered into the statewide "Reciprocal Borrowing" program, giving patrons access to more than 160 other Indiana public libraries.

For reference, this is the same year that Barack Obama was voted in for a second term!

The Digital Underground media lab for video, music, and computer creativity was open to the public at the Columbus Branch. It is now known as BCPL Create.

The Book Express program began. It makes neighborhood stops to help residents of the county foster a love of reading through the distribution of new and gently used free books. Book Express has expanded its services and is now the BCPL Express.

Bartholomew County Public Library serves more than 80,000 residents and houses over 180,000 items at its Columbus, Hope, and Bookmobile locations, including books, audiobooks, magazines, and an ever-expanding Library Of Things of games, instruments, craft equipment, and much more. Helpful online resources and downloadable books, music, movies, and magazines are available 24/7.