Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

All 8 locations offer computer and internet access. Vanderburgh County residents may use computers for two sessions per card per day. Session length depends on location. If you live outside of Vanderburgh County, see staff for possible access.

Anyone living or paying property taxes in Vanderburgh County is eligible for a library membership. If you live in another Indiana county, you need to have a library card at your home library and can then purchase a public library access card annually. (2006 cost of PLAC card is $31.00. This is subject to change without notice.) People who reside out of the state of Indiana must purchase a subscription card annually. (2006 cost of Subscription card is $51.00. This is subject to change without notice.)

Historical Background
Organized in 1848, the first library in Evansville was located in the County Court House. In 1855 the Evansville Library Association was formed and shares were sold. For an annual fee of $5.00, shareholders or residents could borrow books. The city in 1876 levied a small tax for purchasing library books.

In 1909 the Westside Business Association wrote to Andrew Carnegie seeking funds to build four libraries. Mr. Carnegie agreed to provide funding for two libraries if the city would provide the land and support the libraries thereafter. The East and West branches were built with the funds from Carnegie. In April 1912, Ethel McCollough was hired as Chief Librarian. For the next 35 years McCollough devoted her energy and vision towards the establishment of a progressive library system. She introduced the idea of "apprentices," young ladies who worked for a dollar or so a day. She established a library for African Americans, "deposit stations" of books in schools throughout the city and county, and lobbied the County Commissioners to provide library service for all of Vanderburgh County. In 1920 the County Commissioners levied the first county-wide tax for this purpose, and a city-county system was established.

Under Ethel McCollough's leadership and guidance, the Library grew by leaps and bounds. She implemented the Library's first bookmobile, created new branch libraries and used many forms of advertising (posters, bookmarks, book talks, newspaper columns and displays) to promote the public library. She encouraged community groups to use the meeting room facilities in branch libraries. She tripled the book collection by encouraging gifts of money and donations of books.

In 1930, guided by Ethel McCollough, the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library agreed to raze the building at the comer of Fifth and Locust Streets in return for the use of the land. The land was leased to the Library for 99 years for $1.00. In May 1932, following two years of construction, Central Library opened on that corner. The new library was unique in many ways. Located in the business district, with a main entrance level with the sidewalk and making use of display windows, the building was recognized for these innovations. However, the inner core of stack shelving, thought innovative at the time, later made access to the collection difficult.

The Depression necessitated the closing of branches, eliminating staff, cutting hours and salaries and reducing the book budget. As was true in other cities, the Depression brought more people to the Library. An all-time record high in circulation was reached in 1932: 880,000 items. It would be more than 20 years before this record high was reached again.

In 1936, Howell Branch Library was constructed. The grand opening was set for January 1937. This opening was delayed because of Evansville was under water from the 1937 flood. The new Howell library had a basement filled with water. This branch eventually opened in 1937 (and closed 1993). Prior to this branch being built, the library had originally been housed in the kindergarten room of the old Daniel Wertz School (1916) and then on the second floor of Howell hose house(1921).

During World War II the Library strove to meet the needs of the community. Small book collections were put on board the Evansville-built LST's and Victory Bond Drives were held at the library. In 1947, Ethel McCollough retired after serving the community for more than 35 years.

Arnold Rosaaen followed Ethel McCollough as Chief Librarian but died from a heart attack a few years later.

Dr. Herbert Goldhor was appointed Chief Librarian in 1952. During his decade of leadership, Goldhor continued the expansion and renovation of the library system in Evansville. Air conditioning was installed at Central Library and in three of the branch libraries. Bookmobile service was renewed and the use of separate book collections, staffs and departments for service in the County was abolished. The last school station was abolished and a new school branch was established. A Booketeria, a self-serve system operating on the honor system, was established in Wesselman's Supermarket in Lawndale Shopping Center. Land was purchased for what would become McCollough Branch. Goldhor eliminated hand charging and replaced it with a photographic system using transaction cards. A collection of l6mm films and framed art reproductions was begun. A separate room for high school students was also implemented on the third floor of the Central Library.

In 1962 the Library Board appointed Edward Howard as Library Director. During his more than thirty years as Director, Howard oversaw the construction of three new branches, McCollough(1965), North Park(1968) and Red Bank(1991). In the mid-1970s the school building located at the comer of Lynch and Oak Hill roads was purchased and converted into Oaklyn Branch. Advancements in technology allowed for the conversion of the card catalog to computer, and in 1984 the Evansville Public Library's first generation of computers was installed to check out materials to customers. During Howard's tenure, cassettes, videos, CDs, and other types of multi-media were added to the Library's materials collection.

Current Status
In mid-1995, the Library Board appointed Marcia Learned Au as Library Director, and she oversaw the completion of an expansion to McCollough Branch. Under Au's leadership and direction, the Library has created its own web page that makes the Library catalog, databases and other information accessible via the Internet. Also under Au's direction, the Library has greatly expanded its technology capabilities both for customer and staff use, initiated a proactive community partnership philosophy, and initiated a five-year master building plan with direction and approval of the Library Board. This master building plan, based on community needs and described at this Library web site, included a new Central Library which is over three times the size of the prior Central Library, two new regional branches (replacing older buildings) which are than double the previous capacity, and significant renovations to the other five buildings of this 8-location system. Oaklyn opened at its new location in April 2003, Central Library opened at its new location in September 2004 and North Park which opened at its new location in April 2005.

As it has in the past, the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library will evolve and change to meet the continually changing needs of the community it serves.

Events Happening in 2006. One Book, One Community 2006: John Grogan's memoir, Marley & Me, has been selected for this year's One Book One Community read. John will be speaking at the Victory Theatre in a free program on Thursday, November 9th at 7:00pm. Our Oaklyn branch has been selected for publication in a book called "Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love"