About the Library

The Carnegie Foundation approves a $25,000 grant for construction of a public library in Henderson on the condition that the city provide a building site and $2,500 yearly in support. City Attorney James W. Clay determines state law does not allow the city to raise a library tax.

Various collections of books can be found throughout the 1800s in private homes, churches, and schools. Subscribers can access books for two years for a payment of $1 at Mary F. Williams’ private library located in F.C. Kleiderer’s Drug Store.

The Henderson Library Company is formed on January 27, but the library does not get off the ground, possibly due to a severe economic downturn.

Henderson Journal publisher, Edward Asher Jonas, writes a letter to Andrew Carnegie asking the philanthropist to fund a free public library in Henderson.

The Kentucky General Assembly passes a law allowing Class 1 cities to establish a library tax, paving the way for construction of a library here. The City of Henderson establishes a three-cent library tax. The newly appointed Library Board uses $4,000 of City and private funds to purchase a lot on the southwest corner of Washington and Main streets from Camilla and A.T. Dudley. Carnegie pays $20,000. The rest of the money comes from a $4,000 appropriation out of the city treasury for a “Library fund,” and a percentage of city taxes amounting to around $5,000.

The Henderson Public Library is officially established by the State of Kentucky on May 19.

Susan Starling Towles begins her 44 years of service as librarian with an annual salary of $900, an annual budget of $2,500, and $1,500 for purchase of books. The City passes a tax levy of 4 cents per $100 valuation to maintain the library. The first library structure for African Americans in the United States opens with 100 books in the Eighth Street School annex on August 1. Eugenia Mundy oversees daily operations. The main branch of the Henderson Public Library, built in the Classical Revival style, opens to citizens the evening of August 1. Beginning with 500 books, the library’s collection grows to 1,567 by the end of the year. Taxpayers and residents of the City have free use of the library, others pay $1.50 fee annually.

The Henderson Public Library is named the Depository of Public Documents for the Second Congressional District. The Henderson Woman’s Club organizes and opens a branch library in Audubon School in August, serving mill-worker families.

Lillian (Mrs. James) Clay is elected librarian.

Lillian Clay resigns due to ill health. Susan Towles is elected librarian with an increase in salary from $85 to $100 per month.

Former librarian, Lillian Clay, dies and is buried in Fernwood Cemetery.

The Audubon Library branch is housed in the Y.M.C.A. Audubon branch with support from the Henderson Woman’s Club and Henderson Textile Corporation.

High school graduate Sarah Winstead begins her unpaid year of apprenticeship at the library and is tutored daily by Susan Towles in philosophy, Shakespeare, and works of other great authors. Winstead later extends her education at the University of Kentucky.

Sarah Winstead is appointed assistant librarian.

The Audubon branch of the Library closes following the Depression and the closure of the cotton mill. Books are given to Audubon Public School.

The overflowing collection of Second Congressional District documents is moved to the library of the Western Teachers’ College in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Henderson Fiscal Court begins an annual appropriation of $500 to the Library, and rural residents begin using its services free of charge.

Librarian Susan Towles retires on August 1, with a monthly pension of $50. Towles has headed the library for 44 years and continues to volunteer part-time.

The basement is modernized, a public stairway is added from the main floor to the basement, and an outside entrance to Washington Street is made at street level. The Eighth Street branch is moved to the top floor of the Isadore Center at the corner of Alvasia and Dixon. Mrs. Helen Sheets is hired as branch librarian.

Sarah Winstead is named head librarian. Edward A. Jonas dies in Louisville at 88.

Susan Starling Towles, the library’s first librarian, and the “grand lady of Henderson society and culture and charity,” dies in her sleep on January 1 at age 92. She has served as head librarian for 44 years, and has continued to volunteer her time at the library almost daily until her death. The main library and the branch library at the Isadore Center are merged.

An air conditioning system and aluminum front doors are installed.

A new stairway to the basement accesses an expanded children’s reading room, and a college study and reference room. Newspaper files going back to 1887 are being microfilmed along with Gleaner and Journal newspapers beginning with 1954 editions. Space vacated by newspapers is used for extended magazine storage. The Bookmobile library, the most successful of all Kentucky’s mobile units, continues to operate out of the basement. New furniture is installed on the first floor and the woodwork is restored to its natural oak. Recessed lights in the rotunda highlight murals, and fluorescent lights are installed throughout the library.

The City of Henderson discontinues its annual contribution of 35% of police court fines, which averages $5,000, but continues its funding of five cents per $100 assessed valuation of property taxes. To compensate for the drop in funds, the library dips into the capital improvement fund (funded by overdue book fines and usually used for building improvements).

An outside book drop box is installed at the entrance on Washington Street.

Library use increases and the board asks the City and County for increased funding.

Due to limited space, a replacement of the 66-year-old library is discussed with plans to use the existing structure as a historical museum. An area along Washington and Water streets owned by the City is discussed as a possible site for a new public library.

The State of Kentucky makes a $250,000 grant available for a library addition and renovation, provided the City and County governments commit $79,000 each.

The Board unanimously votes to restore the original building and build an addition. Two lots on Washington Street are purchased for the expansion and the Library leases a site at the corner of Washington and Water streets to be used as a library parking lot. 

The Board decides to make repairs to current facility rather than waiting for the renovation planned in conjunction with the library expansion. Work consists of installing a new heating system, repairing the roof and gutters, and waterproofing the exterior.

After numerous delays due to legal disputes over funding, lack of response to bids, and redesigns to cut costs, the final phase of preparation for the expansion project finally begins five years after project was first proposed. Construction on the new addition begins May 1. The library opens in its temporary home at 216 and 232 North Main Street.

The new 10,283 square-foot addition that holds the adult and reference departments opens to the public. The upstairs area is used for offices, and an archive and local history room. The addition nearly doubles the entire size of the library at 20,000 square feet.

Water damage from the foundation and roof threatens the 80-year-old original portion of the library. Gutters are repaired and a drainage system is installed.

The Board gives preliminary approval to a scaled-down design for another addition.

The new children’s library, a 3,400 square foot centerpiece of a $776,00 addition to the library, opens to the public in March. A fire suppression system and new carpeting throughout the library is added. The former children’s department becomes an adult computer lab and a new reference section.

Art restoration experts restore the murals inside of the rotunda in the original building.

The copper roofing on the rotunda is replaced and the stained-glass skylight in the center of the rotunda is removed, cleaned, and re-leaded. The brass chandelier that hangs from the stained glass is restored to its original brilliance.

In preparation for its centennial celebration in August, major renovations of the original building are completed in May. Aluminum front doors are replaced with replicas of the original wooden doors. Woodwork and brass light fixtures in the foyer are refinished, and the tile mosaics in the foyer and on the porch are restored.

The Great Horned Owl sculpture that resides at the Washington Street entrance to the library is dedicated on April 26, John James Audubon’s 221st birthday.

The Washington Street entrance is remodeled to complement the original structure.

The library receives the Downtown Henderson Project’s Historic Preservation Award and Commercial Design Award. 

A new circulation desk is installed. HCPL celebrates its 110th anniversary on August 1 with a community reception in the rotunda. The Board votes to move forward on the acquisition of a three-quarter acre property at 120 S. Water Street, and asks the City to donate a parking lot the library has been leasing for decades. 

The Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives determines the current facility is half the size needed for the population.

Plans for the expansion of the library include larger teen and children’s sections, a children’s garden, quiet study rooms, a tech-friendly “Maker Space,” a dedicated computer training lab, and expanded parking. New event space with a catering kitchen will inhabit the top floor with a beautiful view overlooking the Ohio River.

HCPL breaks ground on the $8.4 million expansion and renovation that will add more than 18,000 square feet to the current 21,600 square feet of space.

Following mandated closures due to a Covid-19 virus, the delay in opening the library in May is due to continued renovation and expansion. Curbside pickup of books, DVDs, craft kits, is coordinated, and free used books and movies are offered outside the Washington Street entrance. Online digital access to the library remains available, as well as programming via the three library Facebook pages. Drop boxes are open and, for the first time in the library’s 115-year history, each library patron’s account balance is cleared. HCPL opens to in-person services in August after five months of forced closure due to the Covid-19 virus and construction. The Washington Street entrance remains closed due to ongoing construction.

Construction continues on the new addition of the library and renovation of the addition that was built in 1980 and expanded in 2000. Portions of the library open as construction allows. The library fully opens to the public in June. Overdue fees, except for hotspots, are eliminated.