MPL's Beginnings

On May 30, 1874, the citizens of Muncie gathered for a meeting called by school superintendent Hamilton S. McRae for the purpose of organizing a new public library and reading room. The meeting resulted in the formation of a stock company to finance the project. Seventeen citizens took shares at the first meeting and later a great many more shares were sold to the people of Muncie. Within a very short period of time, the community had a library consisting of a collection of nearly 2,200 books, a combination of books from the former county and township libraries and volumes collected by the Philalethian Society. 

The collections were placed in the City Building, and $300 was spent for furnishings.  The Muncie Public Library, a city-owned library, opened its doors on January 9, 1875. It was formally dedicated on June 1, 1875. The first librarian was Mrs. Hattie Patterson whose stock certificate is seen below. She received a salary of $250 a year. In order to make a living, she was also permitted to sell stationary in the library rooms.