Lincoln School Library

A Community Bands Together

Postcard image of a brick school building

Lincoln School, ca. early 1900s (Photo courtesy of Ball State University's Archives and Special Collections)

The story of the Lincoln School Branch shows what a community can do when inspired to take action for a service that they deem important and of necessity. According to the library’s histories, the Librarian stated in the 1933 annual report that Lincoln School very much wanted a branch of the Muncie Public Library (MPL) in their school, and a movement to accomplish this was led by the school Principal and library board member, Webb Hunt. Due to the Depression era funding of the library, the School Board, Ball Brothers, Glascock Brothers, and the Lincoln Community Club pitched in to create and furnish a 30 by 75 foot space located in the basement of the school. Lincoln School Library was dedicated on June 5, 1934 and opened for use on June 6, 1934 with plans already in hand to construct an outside entrance into the library and arrange for the addition of a cloak room for patrons to read onsite. Miss Virginia Rankin was appointed the branch librarian.

Miss Virginia Rankin, the first branch librarian for Lincoln School Library (Muncie Star, 06-03-1934, sec. 2, p. 1)

The library entrance to Lincoln School sits juts out from the brick building. A sign above the door reads, "Library entrance." The sign on the side of the entrance reads, "Lincoln School Branch of the Muncie Public Library" with hours below it.

The Lincoln School Library's public entrance pre-1946 (MPL Archives)

Impact

The new library met a long existent need for a branch in the southwest section of Muncie due to unprecedented circulation figures in that area of town. Although it was in a school, all residents of Muncie and Center Township could use the Lincoln School Library, and they did so! By the end of the year, the Lincoln Branch had circulated 21,000 books, had registered 336 borrowers, and it continued to grow! In 1944, the library had circulated 68,000 and had over 1,800 registered borrowers within the first six months of that year. The benefits of having a library in the school also showed in the students who attended Lincoln School. The children there read more library books per pupil than the other schools in the city that were served by the library. They also received more reading diplomas than students at other schools. Reading diplomas were given to children who read and reported on ten books.

A librarian sits at a desk while people browse for books inside the Lincoln School branch of MPL.

People sit at tables looking at books in the Lincoln School Library. In the forefront, Librarian Ermal Johnson helps a patron at the table. In the background, someone is standing by the book shelves looking at a book.

Patrons regularly used the Lincoln School Library branch as you can see in these two photographs. In the second photograph on the right, you can see branch librarian Mrs. Ermal Johnson by the open dictionary helping someone in the library. She served as branch library of Lincoln School Library from 1943-1960 when she moved to the Webb Hunt Library branch. (MPL Archives)

Closing

By 1955, Lincoln School needed the space being used by the library, so MPL made the decision to purchase property for a new branch, which would become known as the Webb Hunt Branch in honor of the principal who was so instrumental in developing the Lincoln School Library branch. On February 25, 1960, the Lincoln School Library branch closed its doors, and library staff began the process of packing books for the move to the Webb Hunt Library. Lincoln School closed in 1980.

Does anyone still remember the old Lincoln School Library? Let us know by clicking here.

Sources

"Fraternity Boys Help Lincoln Branch Library to Move to New Home." (03-05-1960). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"History of Lincoln Branch." (11-18-1944). Webb Hunt Library Scrapbook. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"History of Webb Hunt Branch Library." MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Lincoln School." (n.d.). Muncie and Delaware County Historic Photographs, Ball State University. University Libraries. Archives and Special Collections.

"Lincoln School Branch Library Will Be Dedicated Tuesday Night." (06-03-1934). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Minutes, Muncie Public Library Board: 1941-1952. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Moving Day at Roosevelt, Lincoln Schools." (02-17-1980). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Program Is Announced for Lincoln Branch Library Dedication." (06-01-1934). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Thursday Final Day for Lincoln School Library." (02-24-1960). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"To Facilitate Service and Meet Need in Surrounding Community." (06-03-1934). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

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