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THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Gary Public Library s history is a chronicle of interesting people and events that have contributed to its storied history. In 1944, Orpha Maud Peters, the assistant librarian and first historian of Gary Public Library, summed up the essence of what has made the library so effective over years: SERVICE, in the broadest, truest sense of the word was the basis on which the library was founded." In providing that service, Gary Public Library has become, what all great public libraries do become, the cultural center of its community.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Gary Public Library (GPL) was organized on March 30, 1908, when its first library board met and Ora L. Wildermuth, Gary Public Library’s founder, moved "that we have a Public Library and that the Board proceed to arrange for the same. The motion carried and with it GPL became official.
The first library director of GPL, Louis J. Bailey, started working out of a rented storeroom at 33 West 7th Avenue on September 1, 1908. After three months of organizing the library, Bailey opened it to the public on December 1, 1908. The library had a total of 936 volumes and 75 magazines in its collection. It remained at its 7th avenue location until the summer of 1911, when it was moved to 620 Washington Street. That move was just a temporary one. In the spring of 1910 GPL was awarded a substantial grant of $50,000 (later increased to $65,000) for the construction of a main library building from Andrew Carnegie, the former steel magnate turned public library philanthropist. Built on the northwest corner of Adams and 5th Avenue, the completed one-story library opened on November 17, 1912. Architecturally, it was built in the Classical Revival style. Constructed out of Bedford Stone, its southern entrance had a series of paired, engaged columns supporting a massive entablature.
GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY’S COLLECTION
In terms of Gary Public Library’s collection, besides general nonfiction and fiction, several areas have been emphasized over the years. First, materials on scientific and technical subjects that directly related to the industry of the city …" were purchased and circulated. Second, local history has been a priority from the beginning and materials relating to the founding and growth of Gary" have been collected. Third, foreign-language books were purchased for Gary’’s immigrant population. Fourth, the library has also been a United States government documents depository since 1944. And finally, children’s materials have been stressed.
NONPRINT MATERIALS
In terms of non print materials, GPL has offered a diverse selection for its patrons over the years. In the early years, GPL circulated photographs, paintings, sculptures, lantern slides (the forerunner of the modern photographic slide), stereographs (two nearly identical photographs placed side-by-side on a cardboard backing that when viewed through a stereo viewer gave the appearance of the third dimension), and music rolls. In keeping with times the library has continually updated it non-print materials. During World War II the library started its 16 millimeter film collection. In 1950, GPL offered record albums to its patrons for the first time. By the 1980's and 1990's GPL started offering videos, CD-ROM music discs, and talking books.
Dvds were introduced in 2001at the Main Library and eventually system wide. This popular service continues today. Movie rentals in the vhs format have now been replaced with dvd format. Other new services include wireless Internet access in 2006 at the Main Library and the addition of the latest in audio books in 2007 known as the PLAYAWAY, a small pre-loaded audio book.
BRANCHES
From the start, because of Gary’s large geographic size, the library board knew that in order to provide effective library service to the citizens of Gary, GPL would have to establish branch libraries in the outlying areas of the city. One criterion for establishing a branch was the need to provide the school children with books. That was why most of the branches were originally located near schools. The branches were established in the following order.
- ·Tolleston, 1910
- ·Emerson School, 1913
- ·Miller (later Wildermuth, in 2010 Woodson), 1914
- ·Glen Park (later Kennedy), 1915
- ·Bailey, 1918
- ·Roosevelt, 1923
- ·Alcott, 1924
- ·East Side, 1930
- ·Gary Works, 1938
- ·Brunswick, 1959
- ·Du Bois, 1979
In addition to the individual branches, GPL also extended library service to fire stations, hospitals, shut-ins and so forth. This service was originally provided in the form of a library branch or station placed in the institution, or by a visiting librarian. The Extension Department continues this service today, with a visiting librarian, through its bookmobile.
NEW MAIN LIBRARY
When World War II ended in 1945, the most pressing issue that GPL faced was the space limitations of the original Carnegie library building. Even with a 1939 addition, the building was rapidly becoming overcrowded. The debate over what to do, to enlarge again or build anew, went on the for next ten years.
The turning point came in 1955 when an independent library consulting firm recommended that the original building was beyond repair and that a new library building should be built. The library board agreed and, from that time on, Gary Public Library’s efforts were focused on building a new main library.
The library decided to finance the new building by selling bonds. The problem with this was that, while the 1947 Library Law allowed libraries to sell bonds, the law had yet to be tested in the courts. And until the law was proved to be constitutional, the bonding companies would not issue any bonds.
At this point, the Friends of the Gary Public Library became involved. The Friends tested the constitutionality of the 1947 Library Law with a "friendly" lawsuit. The Friends’ lawsuit went all the way to the Indiana State Supreme Court, which ruled, in November 1960, that libraries could sell bonds for construction projects.
With that decided, movement on the new library proceeded quickly. In May 1962, the library was moved to temporary quarters at 739 Washington Street. The old Carnegie library, which was in its fiftieth year of service, was soon torn down, and a new library was constructed at the same location.
The new Main Library was opened to the public on May 4, 1964. It was constructed of Indiana Limestone. At a total cost of $2.2 million, it was the latest in library design. Its most outstanding feature was the space that it afforded the library to conduct its business efficiently: an auditorium, conference rooms, two floors for shelving, and a full basement.
TODAY
Since the opening of the new Main Library, the most influential changes have occurred in library technology.
The 1980s and 1990s saw GPL embark into the computer age. The library became automated. Among other things, the catalog was put online, essentially replacing the old multi-drawer card catalog, bibliographic databases were installed, and personal computers were made available to the public. In 1998, the library received a Gates Library Foundation Opportunity Grant of $48,900. The following year, a 15-station computer lab at the Du Bois Branch was open to the public. Internet service at all branches were also provided that year.
In the past ten years of the library’s history, technology continues to be a priority. With the availability of Internet service, a Student Computer Monitor Program was implemented to assist patrons with the use of technology throughout the system. Another grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was received in 2001 and new databases were added to the library’s website. A new online catalog and circulation system, SIRSI now provides patrons with the opportunity to access GPL’s catalog from home through the library’s website.
A sorely needed library for the Brunswick community saw fruition in 2003 when its first permanent library building was open on August 11. The reassessment of Indiana’s property taxes and the ongoing discussions of possible consolidation of the county’s seven independent library systems into one county system are current concerns.
In the Gary Public Library’s Centennial year, it continues to effectively weather financial and other obstacles in order to continue to provide vital library service to the community. Service is foremost - the basis on which the Gary Public Library was founded 100 years ago this year.