Greenwood Public Library

The history of the Greenwood Public Library is not merely the story of bricks, mortar, and books. It is also the story of an organization responding and changing over the years to meet the needs of its community. It is the story of individuals and families, and of a community’s increasing need not only for information, but also for connection. The first free public library in Greenwood opened its doors in 1917. The first two years were spent on the second floor of a main street office building overlooking the heart of Greenwood. Two years later, the library moved to a 1,100 square foot corner space in the “Community House” facility on Madison Avenue (now City Hall). The library operated at this location for forty years until the City of Greenwood donated property from the Old City Park for a library building. In 1963, construction was completed on a modern two-story building which boasted 7,500 square feet. The Meridian Street building has seen three major renovations in response to the community’s growth and change: 1974 – Between 1960 and 1970, Greenwood grew from a burg of 7,200 to a bustling suburb of 26,265. The library rose to meet this challenge with a construction project, expanding the building to 21,500 square feet and adding meeting rooms on the ground level and elevator access to the collection on the second floor. 1990-1991– The second remodel and expansion of the building added a dedicated 5,500-square-foot children’s area, individual and group study rooms, and room to house 100,000 books. During the 12-month construction the staff and collection were moved across the street to a smaller space in the Walker building. The difficult year was forgotten, however, when the library moved into the new and improved 31,500-square-foot building. 2001-2002 – The most recent construction project added 20,000 square feet to the library and offered increased space for the collection, public computers, a computer classroom, and enlarged community rooms. The new floor plan was open, airy, and modern. We have grown from a small collection of donated books to a community hub bustling with activity. In 2010, more than 40,000 patrons attended programs at the library, and more than 320,000 items were checked out. Fiber optic cable supplies high speed internet to more than 40 public computers and countless wireless internet users. Subscription databases provide in-depth research for all of our patrons from students to genealogists to local businesses. In spite of the predictions that technology would be the end of libraries, we have found quite the opposite. Our usage statistics continue to trend upward, and every day the library hums with the wonderful blend of pages turning and computers humming. The Greenwood Public Library is now the information destination for a vibrant community. Our goal is always to be the bridge to information for our community through outstanding traditional services, innovative technology, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The walls of our beautiful building no longer limit the resources of the library – patrons check out eBooks and use online resources from home, or join us at events out in the community. We look forward to what the next decade will bring and are ready to meet the challenge.