Mike Wolanin | The Republic Assistant Librarian Brenda McKinney puts away books int he children’s section of the Hope branch of the Bartholomew County Library in Hope, Ind., Monday, July 3, 2023.
HOPE – The Hope branch of the Bartholomew County Public Library will reach a milestone this month as it marks its 25th anniversary.
The one-hour celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12 inside the library at 635 Harrison St., east of the Hope Town Square.
Local architectural archivist Tricia Gilson has been invited to explain the nearly 100-year history of library services in Hope. Those who attend can enjoy refreshments and participate in special craft projects, library officials said.
Library services in Hope have changed drastically over the decades. Beginning in October 1926, farmer-turned-grocer Inman Clouse agreed to have what was called a “library station” in his business. In December 1961, the books were moved into the home of watch repairman Robert Hern on Mill Street, where they stayed for seven years.
An agreement was made in early 1967 to create a Hope branch of the Bartholomew County Library. That decision resulted in the renting of an entire building solely for the library at 638 Main St., where the Yellow Trail Museum is now located.
But 21 years later, the library board in Columbus made a decision that the second largest incorporated community in Bartholomew County needed a larger and modern facility, current library director Jason Hatton said.
“That library serves not only Hope, but all of Flat Rock and Haw Creek townships,” Hatton said. “It’s especially needed for students in the Hope-area schools, and we feel it’s important to serve all areas of the county to the best of our ability.”
Planning for the Hope branch took nearly four years. Delays were caused by unexpected findings in routine soil drilling tests, as well as an unexpected need to move a support beam in the design.
Construction on the $1 million library branch began in September 1997. It was paid for by the Library Improvement and Reserve Fund, which is money save from past library budgets, Hatton said.
The 6,000-square-foot structure was dedicated on June 28, 1998 outside the library under a tent. Former Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Bob Garton was the keynote speaker. New York City architect Deborah Berke also spoke, saying it was her intention to make the building look somewhat like a smaller version of the main county library in Columbus.
The building gave patrons twice as much room than they had in the Main Street facility, Hatton said. Library officials at the time say that additional space was needed for children’s activities, as well as to give visitors places to sit.
While the larger Columbus library has more materials, Hatton said northeast Bartholomew County residents can put in a request for a specific book or item. The main library sends materials, include those requested, to the Hope branch three times a week, he said.
However, the Harrison Street facility has an advantage the main library in Columbus does not, Hatton said.
When the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library in Columbus opened in 1971, few knew of the the internet that was, at that time, used only for government researchers to share information. But when the Hope branch opened in 1998, library board members made sure it had state-of-the-art computer and online capacities placed inside the building.
”When we go to Hope and want to change things, such as putting new computers in, we have plenty of outlets and boxes and internet wiring to move just about anywhere,” Hatton said. “We don’t have all of that at the main library.”
There is one extensive collection in the Hope library frequently in demand by northeast Bartholomew County residents who take great pride in their heritage, Hatton said. The Harrison Street facility has all issues of the Hope Star-Journal, a weekly newspaper published for 102 years until it ceased operations in late 2014.
