Centennial Library

Beginnings, 1972-1993

In Honor of Vivian Conley, 1993-2009

A Difficult Decision

Connection Corner, 2012-Present

Coming Full Circle

Sources

Beginnings, 1972-1993

A small brick building sits on a lot with melting snow around. The sign reads, "Muncie Public Library, Centennial Branch, 9-6 Mon. Wed. & Fri., 9-8 Tues & Thurs, 1824 E. Centennial."

In 2022, Connection Corner celebrated its 10 year anniversary as the technology branch of Muncie Public Library. However, its history began long before 2012. Muncie community member Jesse Stuart presented a letter and petition to the library board in 1968 to establish a branch on the Northeast side of Muncie, which resulted in a branch located in the Huffer Memorial Children’s Center in 1972. However, it quickly began to run out of space, so MPL moved to the corner of Elgin and Centennial in 1978. This branch became known as Centennial Branch.

Muncie Public Library's Centennial Branch (MPL Archives, undated)

A group of African American children smile and pose for the camera at the Centennial Branch open house.

Centennial Branch open house (MPL Archives, 04-16-1978)

A group of people, two children and two adults, stop at a table at Centennial Branch's health fair. A health professional examines a child.

Centennial Branch's Health Fair (MPL Archives, 1980)

In Honor of Vivian Conley, 1993-2009

In 1993, well known civil rights activist and Muncie Public Library board member Vivian Conley passed away at the age of 71. To honor her, the library decided to rename the Centennial Branch the Vivian Conley Branch. It was formally dedicated during Black History Month on February 6, 1994, and it continued as a circulating library serving residents on the Northeast side of Muncie.

A crowd of people attend the dedication of the newly named Vivian Conley Library. Hearts hang from the ceiling, and the library's book collection is seen in the background.

MPL re-dedicated the Centennial Branch into the Vivian Conley Branch Library in 1994. Hurley Goodall served as the master of ceremonies. The event included a video about Ms. Conley, a portrait unveiling, a gospel performance, and refreshments.

Mrs. Vivian Conley stands in front of a stack of books smiling into the camera while holding a book.

Vivian Conley in 1989 (Star Press, 03-12-2007, p. 1C)

Three children gather around and look at the computer. Two are seated while one is standing, bent over. Another child watches in the background. Books line the walls.

Some of Conley Library’s youngest patrons gather around to use a computer, which was very new at the library in 1994 (MPL Archives).

A pegboard book display stands in front of some of the Conley Library's shelves of books. The banner on the display reads "Window to the World" and has an East Asian, Native American, and Caucasian paper cutout child pinned to the display.

Conley’s librarians had created a “Window to the World” book display in order to garner interest in other countries around the globe (MPL Archives).

A Difficult Decision

Due to property tax caps and budget cuts within the library in 2009, MPL administration made the difficult decision to close both the Conley and Carnegie circulating branches and move the Local History & Genealogy branch into the Carnegie building. However, Conley Library had very much grown into the hearts of those within Whitely, and residents tried very hard to persuade MPL to reconsider its decision through discussions and protests. Sadly, no compromise could be reached, and the library closed that same year.

A group of protestors wave signs in front of Kennedy Library. In the forefront is Carolyn Reeves. The signs read, "Help Us Save Conley Library"? and "Save Conley Library."

Carolyn Reeves protested in front of Kennedy Library in May 2009 in an effort to save Whitely's "community jewel," Conley Library (Star Press, 05-17-2009, p. 3A).

A newspaper clipping of James Armstrong with arms outstretched speaking about saving Conley Library.

James Armstrong spoke passionately for saving Conley Library at the MPL board meeting in May 2009, but the board still voted to close the branch on June 1 (Star Press, 05-19-2009, p. 2A).

Connection Corner, 2012-Present

Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library's Public Relations Supervisor, discusses the reason why Connection Corner reopened as a newly-named technology center.

In 2011, it was announced by MPL that the former Vivian Conley branch would become a resource center that would “house electronic books, provide a meeting space large enough for 30-40 people and hold computer and résumé classes for teenagers and adults” (Star Press, 10-29-2011, p. 3) The e-library, reimagined as Connection Corner, opened on July 2, 2012 with the goal to not only provide new technology to the community but also create new partnerships within the Whitely neighborhood. Over ten years later, Connection Corner still strives to fulfill this goal and offers services like a 3D printer, green screen and private recording studio, iMacs, and music, audio, and design software.

A young child helps Mayor Dennis Tyler cut the ribbon with an oversized pair of scissors at the Connection Corner grand opening. Two people hold the ribbon on opposite sides while an elderly woman watches on the right. Director Ginny Nilles is behind Mayor Tyler talking into a microphone. Two banners are on the wall. One reads, "Education Matters!" while the other one says, "Welcome to Muncie Public Library."

MPL held a ribbon cutting ceremony during the grand opening celebration for Connection Corner. MPL Director Ginny Nilles, pictured in the photograph to the left, wanted to address the digital divide in the community. Reimagining the closed Conley Library allowed MPL to do that and give kids the tools they needed to function in society. The new electronic library provided a computer lab, laptops, v-tech readers for kids, e-readers, video production, and meeting room space when it opened again to the public. (Star Press, 07-08-2012 & 07-09-2012, p. 4D & 1C)

A collage of three images shows the new offerings of the reimagined Connection Corner. On the top left, an African American child selects a v-tech reader to use. A selection of the various types of equipment offered at the location sits on shelves. The bottom photo shows an African American woman working on a computer in the lab. In the background, a woman and child sit at a table doing an activity.

Stuart Cotton shows a group of children how to use an iPad on a tripod. The group is in front of a green screen.

Five groups of people sit in one of the rooms of Connection Corner doing various activities, some on iPads, some not. Three of the groups sit at tables. One group of an adult and child sit on the floor while the group at the forefront on the right is standing, playing a video game together.

The youth of the community use the different technological offerings available at Muncie Public Library's Connection Corner location (MPL Archives, 2015-2020).

Coming Full Circle

In order to increase Connection Corner's visibility within the community as a branch of the Muncie Public Library system, the Board of Trustees decided to rename the branch Centennial Library in January 2025. The change reflects the branch's historical name, location, and connection to the Muncie Public Library system. Director Alan Kornblau with several MPL trustees unveiled the new name at the library's 150th anniversary celebration on July 12, 2025.

Do you have a favorite memory of the various incarnations of Centennial Library? Please consider sharing it by clicking here.

Sources

Boyd, Oseye. “Library Forced to Make Tough Decisions.” (03-10-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“‘Centennial’ to be Name for Library.” (11-09-1977). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Conley Branch Library Closing Is Sad, But Also Inevitable." (02-19-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Day, Kelly. “Saving the Library.” (03-17-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Dedication Program.” (Feb. 1994). MPLNow. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Farguheson, Ivy. "Former Library to Become Resource Center." (11-29-2011). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Fisher, Susan. "Muncie Public Library Debuts New Name for Library Branch as Part of 150th Anniversary Celebration" press release. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Gibson, Robin. "Books to Bytes." (02-10-2013). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Goodall, Hurley. "Public Letter Box: Where Will the Money Go?" (03-15-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Harris, Betty. “Comprehensive Huffer Memorial Is ‘Dream for Muncie’s Kids.” (05-30-1972). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Kinsey, Michelle. "Library's Connection Corner Will Open July 2." (06-11-2012). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Leiker, Joy. “Could Conley Become a Whiteley Learning Center?” Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Leiker, Joy. “It’s Official: Libraries Will Close.” (05-19-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Library Gets Connected.” (07-09-2012). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Minutes, Muncie Public Library Board: 1967-1969. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Muncie Public Library Faces Tough Choices.” (05-21-2008). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Nilles, Virginia. "Conley Library Closing Was Not an Easy Decision." (05-21-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Robertson, Myrna. “Friends of Conley Library Ask for Community Support.” (06-19-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Scrapbook. (1978). MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"We held a ribbon cutting...." (07-08-2012). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

White, Ray. "Public Letter Box: Conley Vital." (03-03-2009). Star Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“You are Cordially Invited.” (04-15-1978). MPLNow. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

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