Lexington Public Library history

1900 At the turn of the century, Cary Library owned about 20,000 volumes.

1910 Once in its new quarters, Cary Memorial Library made advances in many areas.

1918), niece of a business partner, was brought up as their own daughter and inherited their property.

Illustrated Lexington Kentucky Illustrated Lexington Kentucky contains photographs, demographics, commerce and financial information about Lexington up to 1919.

1924 The Reading Room opened on Sundays from 2:30-6:30 p.m.

The Hemlock station was established June of 1939.

By 1940 Perry County also had branches in Corning, Junction City, and Shawnee.

In February 1942, the Somerset Friends of the Library was established.

Pauline Bennett was elected Board President in January 1944.

On August 29, 1947 the Library Board requested, in the form of a resolution, that the Village Council of New Lexington acting under Ohio General Code Section 7643-1a (now Ohio Revised Code 3375.20) allow the formation of a county library district.

1956 The 50th anniversary of the Cary Memorial Library building was observed in July by an article in the Minuteman newspaper and a display of photographs on the outside bulletin board.

By 1960, circulation had expanded to over 400,000 books, the highest per capita circulation of any medium-sized public library in Massachusetts.

When director Ralph Nason resigned in 1961, he was replaced by Karl Nyren, whose focus was on making the community aware of the library and its services and increasing its use as a cultural center.

1962 Plans were made for programs in the areas of adult education, art exhibits, and film showings.

1963 A film, "The Fifth Freedom," was made at the Cary Memorial Library under Mr.

1964 "With the demand among adults for less fiction and more non-fiction, Cary Library concentrated on the acquisition of materials especially in the areas of business and science, often aided by donations from local businesses and individuals.

In 1965, the first signs of library collaboration were documented, as Miss Thomas worked out an agreement with the Caldwell Public Library, the State Bookmobile, and the Martins Ferry Public Library, whereby Perry County District Library would exchange books with them.

In 1966, Rabbi William J. Leffler proposed forming a Friends of the Library organization to the library’s board of trustees.

1967 Robert C. Hilton succeeded Karl Nyren as Director, and it was under his tenure that the first century of Cary Memorial Library ended and the second 100 years began.

1968 On its 100th anniversary, Cary Memorial Library’s book circulation alone (437,177) was about 10 percent higher than the previous year.

Articles of incorporation were filed January 17, 1969, in Fayette County Court.

The Friends held its first book sale in 1971 on the grounds of the library, which was then housed in the Carnegie building in historic Gratz Park.

Funds for final plans for the first phase were requested at the 1972 Town Meeting.

Summer bookmobile services continued until provisions were made through monies awarded by the County Commissioners from the Revenue Sharing funds to allow for extended bookmobile service in September 1974.

Rebecca Phillips Olson was hired as the County Librarian (a position that in later years would be known as Library Director). After resuming her duties on June 1, 1976, it was no longer necessary for the library to contract a supervising manager from the State Library Service Center in Caldwell.

In the midst of this activity, in 1977 the Somerset Branch was moved from its location on North Columbus Street to Public Square.

1978 Cary Library was active in three library networks: Eastern Regional Public Library System, Wellesley-Lexington Areas Cooperating Libraries, and Community Health Information Network.

1980 Cary Library joined NELINET, a regional network of libraries that shared costs, resources and cataloging, allowing access to materials worldwide through the Ohio Computer Library Center (OCLC).

In January of 1981 a building fund (separate from the general fund) was established by the Board of Trustees with a $1000 donation from the Mooney family.

In July 1982, Sheila Glowacki applied for a grant to purchase the first computers for the library.

The property was located near Carroll Street (Lincoln Park Drive). In January of 1983, Mark Denny, of Midwest Engineering, was hired project planning purposes, during this same meeting it was decided that a bond levy would be placed on the June ballot that year.

In March 1986, a land contract was signed for the Dane Gordon property in Junction City.

In September 1987 a deed had been prepared and the Board approved a motion to purchase the building.

In September 1988, the Board appointed Michael Wantz as the new Director of the Library.

Also, in February 1989, it was decided that the Crooksville Branch would move to a larger location, which was a property to be leased from Mr.

Renovations were finally completed on the Zinn property in Crooksville, and the Crooksville National Honor Society assisted in the move in March 1990.

A two-day open house event was held at the New Lexington library on September 14-15, 1991.

In May 1992, Pauline Bennett resigned from the Board of Trustees after more than 50 years of service to the library, 48 of which were served as President of the Board.

Thornville went on-line in 1994 and the rest of the branches followed as installations were completed.

By September 1995 the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) had been very busy laying groundwork to link all 250 libraries, public schools, and Ohio Link Universities together.

Years later (October 4, 1996), she was inducted into the Ohio Library Trustees Hall of Fame.

In October 1997, the Board decided to rent 103 Public Square in Somerset for a new location for the Somerset Branch, and by December the new location was open to the public.

On March 22, 1998, the Friends Book Cellar opened for business two days a week, Sunday and Monday.

A year later, July 1999, Phillip Markwood and Associates was chosen as the architect for this project, along with a major renovation project for Junction City Branch.

In July 2000, the Crooksville Branch moved directly across Main Street to its current location.

In March 2001, the library was awarded a Gates Grant for $113,256.00, which allowed the purchase of 29 new computers to be placed throughout the library system for use by patrons.

On April 17, 2002, the Board of Trustees decided to go into a 15-year lease agreement on the property currently occupied by the Somerset Branch with the understanding that the landlord, Bob Muetzel, would complete a major renovation to meet the needs of the library.

In October 2003, it was time to proceed with the Junction City project.

On April 20, 2004, the restored and renovated library opened, featuring enhanced public service space, a Children's Room nearly tripled in size, state-of–the-art technology and systems, two large meeting rooms, and five private study rooms.

In October 2006, the Board of Trustees adopted a new mission statement, “Explore, Educate, Enjoy!”

On May 31, 2007, Mike Wantz retired his position as Director, with the understanding that he would return after two months as the Executive Director of the library.

In 2008, Cary library implemented the model that has been used ever since: a month-long (March) series activities anchored by a common theme and a book that reflects that theme:

2009 Cary Library applied for and received a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for a preservation survey of the library’s local history materials.

On May 25, 2012, Board President Barbara Mooney signed the final documents on a property in Somerset, located at 117 West Main Street.

2013 Cary Library participated in the Town’s 300th anniversary celebration by promoting the Lexington Author Collection, and presenting author Jill Lepore who talked about her book The Story of America.

2014 Cary Library’s “Year of Discovery: science, technology and you” provided new ways to work with community members.