Gateway Center

A Community Partnership

At the end of 1967, plans for a new project to provide services in a community center at the intersection of Kirby Avenue and Blaine Street were underway in order to meet the needs of the Industry neighborhood. The First Brethren Church building was purchased for this purpose in January 1968 by several Baptist churches in the community, and the organization asked Muncie Public Library to participate by requesting that we supply books, furniture, and programming while offering a few small rooms for the library to develop. Muncie Public Library accepted, recognizing the need to improve literacy in that area of the community. The new branch opened on April 15, 1968 with Mrs. Ada Hinds as director of the project.

Mrs. Ada Hinds looks through the shelves of books at the Gateway Center.

Mrs. Ada Hinds checks books at the newly opened Gateway Center Library. In order to spread the word about the new library, Hinds and staff would take to the streets, talking to passing pedestrians, both adults and children. (Scrapbook, MPL Archives, 04-24-1968).

Children sit at the tables and on the floor of the Gateway Center doing various activities.

Children at the Gateway Center Library, ca. 1968 (Scrapbook, MPL Archives)Fun Fact: Gateway Center Library had the best returns record of any other library in town in 1969 (Muncie Evening Press, 03-19-1969. p. 16).

An Experimental Library

The Gateway Center library was, in some ways, experimental for the time. Normal library practices were waived. No one needed a library card to borrow a book nor did late returns accrue fines. The goal for Gateway was to make books available in an easy and uncomplicated manner. In fact, Ada Hinds wasn’t a trained librarian. She envisioned the library as a place to alleviate hopelessness among children and help ease racial tensions in the neighborhood. Ada really strove to create an atmosphere of trust, understanding, and equality within the space. The branch also offered an extensive array of programs including movies, story hours, classes, and tutoring with help from Ball State’s Student Volunteer Services to name a few.

Muncie Public Library in cooperation with a work-study program at Ball State University hosted hired students for the summer to help with the various activities at the Gateway Center Library. Here, Mark Hinds reads to Pat and Alecia Dunn while Brenda Price, Jennifer Atkins, and Mrs. Mari Louise Smith observe and listen. (Muncie Star, 06-16-1968, p. 12B)

Two young African American children play chess with each other while Ada Hinds and Angie Homes look on in the background.

Melvin and Jeffery Woodgett, members of the Gateway Library Chess Club, prepare for the city-wide open tournament hosted by the branch library. Miss Angie Homes, assistant director of the center, and Mrs. Ada Hinds watch at the sidelines. (Muncie Star, 04-30-1971, pg. 44)

Closing

The experimental library did not last long however. At the end of 1974, the Gateway Center’s future was uncertain. Building standards weren’t being met. The center suffered from lack of security with high incidents of vandalism, break-ins, and theft. Last, the library just never had a huge amount of public response despite the efforts of staff. With these factors in mind, then Director Leon Jones and the board decided to close the Gateway Center Library by January 1, 1975.

Gary Bartling and Dewayne Estes stand at the top of the stairs to the Gateway Center holding a dolly with boxes on it.

Gary Bartling (left) and Dewayne Estes (right) help close the Gateway Center Library. In this picture, they are moving books to the Main Library (now Carnegie Library) so that librarians can inventory library materials. (Muncie Evening Press, 12-09-1974, p. 20)

Gary Bartling, who retired from Muncie Public Library in 2022, tells us his memories of the old Gateway Center branch of MPL.

Do you have any fond memories of time spent at the Gateway Center? Please consider sharing them by clicking here.

Sources

“Closing Library.” (12-09-1974). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Creech, Floyd. “Gateway Offers Hope Where Little Existed.” (08-28-1968). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Creech, Floyd. “Participation Is Growing at New Gateway Library.” (04-24-1968). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Gateway Library Branch Will Be Closed Jan. 1.” (11-13-1974). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Greicus, Alberta. “Library’s Gateway Project Nears Completion, Set to Open April 15.” (04-10-1968). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Harris, Betty. “Gateway Center is a Busy Place.” (03-19-1969). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Extensive Program Offered at Gateway Library Branch.” (06-20-1968). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

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

“Minutes: Muncie Public Library Board, 1973-1974.” MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Named to Gateway Center Post." (07-27-1968). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“The Next Move.” (04-30-1971). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Wingrove, Betty. "A Year of Growth: Gateway Center Expands Programs." (04-30-1972). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

“Work-Study Jobs Help Insure Students’ Fall Return to BSU.” (06-16-1968). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

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