User:Joy Twedell/Carnegie Public Library (Shelbyville, Kentucky)

Shelby County Public Library - This historic Carnegie library was constructed in 1903. Shelbyville was one of 1,419 communities to receive a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build a public library. To be eligible for the grant, communities had to demonstrate a need for a public library, provide the land and pledge financial support for services and maintenance.

The need for a library in Shelbyville was demonstrated by the efforts of the Woman's Club of Shelby County. They organized the first local library in 1899 with 200 books. Based upon this endeavor, Shelbyville was awarded a $10,000 grant to build a library. The grant required a site be provided and a yearly support be pledged to support the library. The city of Shelbyville owned two abandoned lots in the central part of the city, located on Eight and Washington Streets. The corner lot had been used as a cemetery but was abandoned when Grove Hill Cemetery was established in 1854. The next lot had belonged to the Presbyterian Church but reverted to the city after the church was destroyed by a storm. The city pledged an annual $1,000 support for the library and approved the site for the two lots for a sum of $500.

In 1958, the library became the Shelby County Public Library and was also integrated at this time. Shelby countains voted to levy a library district tax in 1962 to support library services.

There have been four additions to the orginal Classic Revival Carnegie Library designed by Val P. Collins of Louisville. The fourth addition completed in 2008, brought the total space of the library to approximately 22,00 square feet. This addition of the library building allowed for the expansion of the main level by being able to add more computers for the public, additional shelving space for book, CD/DVD and audio collections. Separate areas for teens, reference, quiet areas for study and computers. The addition for the lower level provided an additional program room for library programs and for public use.

Outreach service is offered throughout Shelby County by community stops, homebound visits to shut-ins, daycare centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other senior citizen sites by the Bookmobile.

Bookmobile Service has been available to Shelby County since 1955. Mrs. Archibald B. Young donated the first bookmobile in memory of her husband. Mrs. Howard (Helen) Lawson of Waddy was the first bookmobile librarian until she retired in 1978.