The information gathered herein was gleaned from the recently created Avon-Washington Township Public Library History Collection, overseen by Mrs. Susan Truax.
The first Board meeting was held in preparation for the opening of the Washington Township Public Library at the local High School.
According to the Board minutes for this date, the first book order was placed for the Washington Township Public Library during this meeting.
Miss Gladys McCalment accepted the position of librarian at the Washington Township Public Library.
Washington Township holds a fair on the Avon school grounds to benefit the establishment of a township library.
The Washington Township Library formally opens in the Avon school building.
The Danville Republican reported on May 12, 1921 that the Washington Township Public Library would begin a book delivery service on this date.
A second fair to benefit the library took place on this date, according to the Board minutes.
At the April 7 Board meeting, Miss Gladys McCalment retires, making way for Miss Nellie Gorrell to be hired at a salary of $40 a month.
During the November 16 board meeting, Miss Gorrell reported that 801 books had circulated, proving to be the best month for the year.
In a clipping from the Danville Republican dated February 8, 1923, the paper declares that the official Township Library week will run from February 11 through the 18.
According to the Danville Republican, Miss Nellie Gorrell spent a couple months around this time at library training school in Indianapolis.
According to the March 4 Board minutes, Miss Gorrell has resigned. Shortly thereafter, Miss Mary Denny Gossett replaces her.
Sometime in 1925, Miss Juanita Carter takes over as the librarian at the Washington Township Public Library.
The January Board minutes indicate that Mr. Oscar Bradford is the new township trustee for Washington Township.
Plans are made at the July Board meeting to hold a "Guest Day" at the library on August 8.
The June Board minutes indicate that Miss Juanita Carter requested and is granted a 2 month leave of absence. During this time, Miss Dorothy Thomas is the substitute librarian.
The economy of the United States took a terrible downturn.
The April Board minutes indicate that Miss Juanita Carter has resigned. Miss Edna Hamblen is chosen to replace her beginning in May.
In December of the previous year, the library was only open for 8 days of the month due to an outbreak of Scarlet Fever in the school.
During the April Board meeting, Miss Hamblen reported the circulation statistics for April as Adult - 612 and Juvenile - 420, for a total of 1,032.
The October 3 Board meeting is held in the new library room which has been added to expand the library.
Miss Hamblen reports that 15,037 books circulated during the year of 1932.
At the February 5, 1935 Board meeting, Miss Hamblen reports that 988 adult books and 924 juvenile books circulated in January, for a total of 1,912 circulated.
The February 5, 1935 Board meeting minutes report that the Board's new president is the new Township Trustee: Dr. Earl Ferree
The Board meeting minutes for March 10 give Miss Hamblen permission to attend library school during the summer.
Mrs Hamblen reports a total of 980 borrowers for the year of 1936 during the December Board meeting.
During the June 22, 1937 Board meeting, a salesman displayed the Compton Encyclopedia for the consideration of the Board.
During the April 26, 1938 Board meeting, it is reported that there were a total of 1,097 borrowers for the year of 1937.
The American Library Association adopts the Library Bill of Rights.
The United States joined the war in Europe against Germany and the Nazis.
This information was discovered on a loose paper report tucked into the book containing the Board report minutes:
During this time, books were collected and distributed to troops fighting in World War II. The Washington Township Library participated in this campaign.
This information was discovered on a loose paper report tucked into the book containing the Board report minutes:
The January Board minutes indicate that Mr. Chester Parsons is the new township trustee for Washington Township.
At the February 6, 1945 Board meeting, it was reported that 17,768 books were circulated in the previous year.
This information was discovered on a loose paper report tucked into the book containing the Board report minutes.
At the December 10, 1946 Board meeting, Mrs. Hamblen reported the total circulation for 1946 as 16,038 volumes.
This information was discovered ona loose paper report tucked into the book containing the Board report minutes. No date was attached other than the year it described.
During the June 11, 1951 Board meeting, significant events of interest occurred in the development of the library:
"John H. Price, school township trustee and member of the library board by virtue of his office, has denied the remaining members of the library board and the librarian, Mrs. Edna C. Hamblen, access to the room where the library is located in the public school building of Washington Township and has locked members of the board out of the building..."
The Board minutes for the meeting occurring on August 27, 1951 indicate that an upcoming Township budget meeting is trying to incorporate the library tax.
"It was decided to institute whatever legal proceedings that seemed advisable and necessary to definitely determine the respective powers and rights of the Library Board and the township trustee in the management and control of the Library." Board Meeting minutes, October 2, 1951.
Shortly thereafter, the minutes indicate that future board meetings would be suspended (or held very irregularly) until the issue was resolved.
Mrs. Jessie Thomas is hired as the new Librarian.
According to the Library Historian, Mrs. Susan Truax, the library relocated to a storefront sometime between 1964 and 1965.
A letter about the expiration of a 10 year lease in 1983 leads me to believe that the library's next relocation happened in 1973.
In a letter from the lease holders, the Washington Township Public Library is told it has two months to vacate the property.
Luckily, the Washington Township Library had been constructing a new building on their own land, so when the order to vacate was received, they had somewhere to go.
On October 2, 1983, the new Washington Township Public Library was dedicated.
According to a paper by Truax, Jessie Thomas retired as the library director after 31 years serving that role.
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