Bloomfield-Eastern Greene Public Library
Bloomfield Eastern Public Library
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a group of local residents decided that the Bloomfield community needed a public library. In 1905, Mercia Hoagland, Secretary of the State Library Commission, visited Bloomfield and explained the procedure of starting a library.
On Tuesday, June 25, 1907, the first public library in Bloomfield opened, occupying newly-painted rooms in the northwest corner of the basement of the courthouse. With some 1,200 volumes lining its shelves and "a considerable number of the best magazines and other periodicals," the Bloomfield Library opened its doors to the public.
Soon the library committee realized that the rooms in the courthouse basement were not sufficient to meet the growing demands residents of Bloomfield were putting on the new library. Within eighteen months of the opening of the library, the committee was planning for a new facility. Available to communities across the country at the time were grants from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. Established by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie after the turn of the century, the foundation provided money to smaller communities to build libraries.
On June 17, 1911, the Bloomfield Carnegie Pubic Library, located on the corner of Franklin and Spring Streets, was completed. The new library consisted of a large room for books on the first level and a meeting room in the basement area. The interior walls of the new building were described as being "tastefully decorated".
Money would become a worrisome topic for the library board members over the next several years as they struggled to meet the everyday expenses of payrolls, new equipment, supplies, and maintenance. One of the most serious problems facing the board was the water that filled the basement after heavy rains.
For years local youths had used the yard on the east side of the library for various sporting activities, football in the fall and winter and baseball in the summer. It was a natural place to play, especially with the low concrete wall that defines the property boundaries on the east and north sides of the yard. As the small township schools consolidated into larger schools, each with their own libraries, there was less need for students to use the local library for their research and other school-related projects. At about the same time, with the popularization of movies and television, the hours spent reading were significantly decreased, and the library patronage began to decline. During these years the library began to expand its services through the inter-library loan service program, offering access to reference service and circulating collections at the Indiana State Library. The Bloomfield Public Library began stocking materials for the blind. The library also started to receive a state funding distribution, and the board began to explore avenues of state and federal funding to further the services the library might offer to the community.
As the 1990s began, the library board continued to look into the future. Board members realized that the main branch in Bloomfield, an 80-year-old brick building, did not meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The heating and plumbing systems were nearly as old as the building itself, and the electrical system needed to be completely rewired. However the main problem was lack of space. These problems were solved with the renovation of the old building and the addition, which tripled the amount of floor space.
The children’s department was expanded, and a conference room was added. The library has a room that houses local and Indiana history. The addition also provides a large area used for shelving books. Computers were also installed for patrons to use. The original woodworking was stripped and refinished to its original color. The high ceilings and tall windows give the library a spacious appearance. The original fireplace was uncovered and refurbished, making the reading room a pleasant and inviting place.
On Friday, September 12, 1997, the future of the library was uncertain as the Bloomfield Furniture Store located across the alley, burned to the ground. Fortunately, the library was spared with only minimal damage. An air-conditioning unit was located near enough to the fire to draw smoke into the building. Some of the shingles curled from the intense heat, and several outside windows were damaged on the north side. The library continued to be the cultural hub of the community. Many activities are held at the library, such as programs, speakers, and meetings for all age levels.
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
Pictures can be found in our photogallery.
