Early History
1816 The Assembly passed An Act for the Incorporation of Public Libraries.
1820 First library established in Bloomington.
1826 Library moved to free-standing brick building in Courthouse Square.
1912 Library re-started in the Courthouse.
Carnegie Library
1913 Library established contact with Carnegie Corporation for new building. Children's collection added; library's total collection was 2,165 books.
1915 Library reorganized to serve the City, Bloomington Township, and Perry Township. Carnegie Corporation contributed $31,000 to the library building fund.
1918 Carnegie Library opened at 6th Street and Washington; the building now houses the Monroe County History Center.
1929 "Book Truck" service inaugurated to county towns and 72 schools--third bookmobile in the state and the longest running.
Monroe County Public Library
1965 The Bloomington Public Library merged with the Monroe County Public Library system. The Monroe County Public Library Foundation formed.
1968 Storefront branch opened in Ellettsville on Sale Street. Construction on new Main Library in Bloomington begun.
New Main Library
1970 New Main Library opened at corner of Kirkwood Ave. and Lincoln; it featured a Randtriever, a series of shelves accessed by robotic arms.
1973 Library added service to homebound patrons.
1974 Community Access Television started service with one public access channel (Channel 7 - later Channel 3).
1977 Adult literacy program (VITAL), one of the first, if not the first such program in the state, began tutoring services.
1981 Main Library renovation and automation system funded by $500,000 bond.
1982 First online automation system put in place.
1987 Second channel (Channel 12) for government access added by Community Access Television.
1987 Randtriever removed and space renovated for VITAL, Children's, and Audiovisual Services.
1987 Pilot project created library in Monroe County Jail in partnership with County.
1988 Current Young Adult Services program for teens started: for teens, by teens, on behalf of teens, and in partnership with the community.
New Ellettsville Branch
1990 New Ellettsville Branch (10,000 sq. ft.) opened at Sale and Temperance St. to meet growing demand for library services.
1992 Circulation reached over 1 million.
1994 Groundbreaking held for renovation and expansion of Main Library.
1996 Library connected to the Internet.
1997 Current bookmobile purchased.
Main Library Renovated and Expanded
1997 New Main Library facility--a full city block (137,000 sq. ft.) dedicated.
1997 Library moved to new automation system.
1998 Bookmobile added to automation system through cellular technology.
1999 Community Access Television Services was first in U.S. to offer both live and archived video coverage of public meetings on the Internet.
2003 Community Access Television added third channel (Channel 14) for international news broadcasts from over 70 countries.
2003 Revised Mission Statement and Strategic Plan approved by Board of Trustees; both emphasized library as community gathering place.
2004 Wireless Internet access added. Library achieved a circulation of 2 million. Community Access Television Services (CATS) celebrated 30 years of service, 19 national awards, and an archive of 20,000 hometown movies documenting the community's cultural history.
Ellettsville Branch Remodeled
2005 Remodeling of Ellettsville Branch completed. Library began offering online meeting room and program reservation option to the public. Outreach Services expanded to include library van service to nursing homes and daycare centers.
2005 Kids Alive!, Community Access Television's educational program by kids and for kids and the longest running cable-only children's program on television, celebrated its 30th anniversary. The Friends of the Library and the library partnered in creating a Friends Bookstore at the Main Library to expand the weekly Tuesday booksale. At year's end, 75% of the local population had library cards.
Top Ten American Library Ranking
2005 Library selected as a Top Ten American Library; Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) ranked Monroe County Public Library fifth among 329 libraries from across the nation serving a population of 100,000 to 249,999.