Library Hours

Monday 10AM - 8:30PM

Tuesday 10AM - 8:30PM

Wednesday 10AM - 8:30PM

Thursday 10AM - 8:30PM

Friday 10AM - 6PM

Saturday 9AM - 5PM

Sunday - Closed

History:

Over 100 years ago, in the year 1909, a group of young women involved in the Y Society (a branch of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union WCTU) met and decided the town needed a reading room for young children and residents to enjoy.

A year later, in the spring of 1910, the idea of a library resurfaced when it was revisited during a session of the Women’s Reading Club. In April 1912 a library committee was formed. A letter was written to Mr. Carnegie asking what procedure a town should follow to institute a library.

In the months that followed and while waiting for a response from Mr. Carnegie, the library committee raised money for the new library. By September of 1912 the women had received a $200.00 pledge. As no response had come from Mr. Carnegie, the committee wrote a new letter to the Carnegie Library Commission. On December 5th Mrs. Werner, the library committee president, received a discouraging letter from the commission. Undeterred, the library committee wrote a new letter on January 27, 1913. A reply came quickly on February 2 recommending the committee contact the Indiana Library Commission.

The Indiana Library Commission replied and stated a member of the commission would visit the town of Hobart on February 15th. The chairman of the Indiana Library Commission explained the process of beginning a library. First and foremost was the requirement of obtaining a site for the library. The ladies obtained the Rodman property at East and 4th Streets though luncheons, recitals, teas, dances and rummage sales. The property was purchased on June 21, 1913. The bid was $1350.00.