Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Indianapolis Public Library (formerly known as the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library) is the public library
system that serves the citizens of Marion County
, Indiana
, United States
and its largest city, Indianapolis
. The library was founded in 1873 and has grown to include a Central Library building, located adjacent to the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
, and 22 branch libraries spread throughout Marion County. According to a March 13, 2007 press release, the Library boasted over 5.43 million visitors and a record-high circulation of nearly 13.8 million items in 2006. The Central Library building was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret
, (with Zantzinger, Borie and Medary
) and completed in 1917. A complete historic renovation and a major addition to the library was designed by Woollen, Molzan and Partners
. It opened in 2007.
Mission:
"The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library is the community's place to access essential information resources, technology, programs and services; foster reading and learning and promote the social, economic, recreational and lifelong learning interests of its diverse population."
Vision:
"The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library will continue to be one of the best library systems in the United States as measured by its responsiveness and relevance to the community's information and learning needs; the excellent stewardship of its resources and the high-quality service it delivers to the public."
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
system that serves the citizens of Marion County
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and its largest city, Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The library was founded in 1873 and has grown to include a Central Library building, located adjacent to the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza is an urban feature located in Indianapolis, Indiana, originally built to honor the veterans of World War I. The five-city-block plaza was conceived in 1919 as a location for the national headquarters of the American Legion and a memorial to the state's and...
, and 22 branch libraries spread throughout Marion County. According to a March 13, 2007 press release, the Library boasted over 5.43 million visitors and a record-high circulation of nearly 13.8 million items in 2006. The Central Library building was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret
Paul Philippe Cret
Paul Philippe Cret was a French-American architect and industrial designer. For more than thirty years, he headed the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.- Biography :...
, (with Zantzinger, Borie and Medary
Zantzinger, Borie and Medary
Zantzinger, Borie and Medary was an early to mid-twentieth-century American architecture firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania specializing in institutional and civic projects, and active under that name from 1910 through 1929, and continuing until 1950. The partners were Clarence C. Zantzinger,...
) and completed in 1917. A complete historic renovation and a major addition to the library was designed by Woollen, Molzan and Partners
Woollen, Molzan and Partners
Woollen, Molzan and Partners is a US-based second-generation architecture, interior design, and planning firm. The company was founded in 1955 by Evans Woollen...
. It opened in 2007.
Mission and Vision
On November 20, 2008, the Library Board officially adopted the following mission and vision statementshttp://www.imcpl.org/about/aboutimcpl.html:"The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library is the community's place to access essential information resources, technology, programs and services; foster reading and learning and promote the social, economic, recreational and lifelong learning interests of its diverse population."
Vision:
"The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library will continue to be one of the best library systems in the United States as measured by its responsiveness and relevance to the community's information and learning needs; the excellent stewardship of its resources and the high-quality service it delivers to the public."
Branches
Besides the Central Library, The Indianapolis Public Library also operates twenty-two branch libraries and provides bookmobile services.| Branch Name | Year Est. | Current Location |
|---|---|---|
| Brightwood Branch | 1901 | 2435 N. Sherman Drive |
| College Avenue Branch | 1924 | 4180 N. College Avenue |
| Decatur Branch | 1967 | 5301 Kentucky Avenue |
| Eagle Branch | 1960 | 3325 Lowry Road |
| East 38th Street Branch | 1957 | 5420 E. 38th Street |
| East Washington Branch | 1911 | 2822 E. Washington Street Washington Street (Indianapolis) Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The street follows the route of the National Road for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S... |
| Flanner House Branch | 1967 | 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street |
| Fountain Square Branch | 1896 | 1066 Virginia Avenue |
| Franklin Road Branch | 1969 | 5550 S. Franklin Road |
| Garfield Park Branch | 1918 | 2502 Shelby Street |
| Glendale Branch | 1930 | Glendale Town Center Glendale Town Center Glendale Town Center aka Glendale Mall or Glendale Center Mall is located at 6101 North Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis. The mall was built in 1958 as an open air shopping center and was designed by Victor Gruen and Associates. When the Glendale Shopping Center opened, it was the premier retail... 6101 N. Keystone Avenue |
| Haughville Branch | 1896 | 2121 W. Michigan Street |
| InfoZone Branch | 2000 | 3000 N. Meridian Street Meridian Street (Indianapolis) Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.Meridian Street was formerly aligned with US 31 for much of its length in the city of Indianapolis, before being re-routed to a segment of Interstate 465. The street delineates east addresses from west... Inside The Children's Museum of Indianapolis The Children's Museum of Indianapolis The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. It is located in the United Northwest Area neighborhood on Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is with five floors of exhibit halls... |
| Irvington Branch | 1903 | 5625 E.Washington Street |
| Lawrence Branch | 1967 | 7898 N. Hague Road |
| Nora Branch | 1971 | 8625 Guilford Avenue |
| Pike Branch | 1967 | 6525 Zionsville Road |
| Southport Branch | 1967 | 2630 E. Stop 11 Road |
| Spades Park Branch | 1912 | 1801 Nowland Avenue |
| Warren Branch | 1974 | 9701 E. 21st Street |
| Wayne Branch | 1969 | 198 S. Girls School Road |
| West Indianapolis Branch | 1897 | 1216 S. Kappes Street |
Further reading
- Downey, Lawrence J. A Live Thing in the Whole Town: The History of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, 1873-1990. Indianapolis: Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, 1991.