2025 is our 125 year of serving our community! Read below to learn about our history and see how you can celebrate this monumental year with us.
In the spring of 1897, the eight women’s literary clubs of Jeffersonville, Indiana decided that their city needed a public library. Although there was already a workingmen’s library in Jeffersonville, it was more often a place for men to smoke and talk politics than it was a source of education and resources for the public. Miss Hannah Zulauf and her book clubs decided to change that.
By raising a subscription fund of over $1,200 through donations from the local community, the literary clubs moved to transfer ownership of the library to the township and establish a library association. Their mission? To create an accessible and educational collection of books available to the entire township, women and children included.
The Jeffersonville Township Public Library Carnegie building, circa 1905!
The proceeding legal technicalities lasted for almost three years. But finally, on December 17, 1900, the Jeffersonville Township Public Library was born! Miss Poindexter, our first librarian, set up a small room on the second floor of Citizens National Bank with our 1,700 book collection, some shelving, and an old clock that was transferred from the workingmen’s library. Oh, how far we have come.
Today, JTPL boasts two locations in Clarksville and Jeffersonville, well over 100,000 print books, and countless more resources such as e-books and audiobooks, a library of things, free online databases, and patron-accessible computers. We’ve greatly expanded our services to include a Makerspace and Multimedia Studio as well as dozens of programs and public spaces at both locations.
2025 is our 125th year, and we want to celebrate our growth with you! This year, we have planned:
Anniversary events:
We hosted a celebration with free ice cream and chalk on June 23, and nearly 200 people came by! We’re planning another celebration in October, so stay tuned. We’ll also have an anniversary event on December 17.
A limited-edition library card:
Our 125th edition library cards were designed by a patron here in Jeffersonville! Starting on August 1, you can visit the circulation desk at your library location to receive a new card for free. The new cards will replace your own one and will remain connected to your current library account.
An anniversary tote bag:
The cloth tote bag with our anniversary logo is available for $7 at the Friends of the Library in the lower level of our Jeffersonville location. All profits go to creating more library programs! If you’re interested in buying a tote, come to the Friends’ Book Sale on the second and fourth Friday and Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
A booklist craft of our librarians’ 125 favorites:
We got together to make a list of 125 of our favorite books, and we wanted to share them with you! You can find the downloadable craft here and put together the brochure and book pocket at home. Of course, you can also print out the craft here at the library with our free printing. What better way to celebrate the library than with more reading?
And more:
We have 125th anniversary bookmarks coming on August 1st and more stickers and pins coming soon! There are so many ways you can show your love for the library.
I’m glad I completed a comprehensive history of the library back in 2020. Feel free to use the videos I did as well. I would like to be recognized for the work I did. A little thank you for my hard work.