Welcome to the South Whitley Public Library!
SWPL opened on August 20, 1913 in the attic of the once then post office, which offered heat and lighting at a steal of $7.00 a month; Miss Gladys Stump held the position of the first librarian until 1920. The original building still stands down the street of the current library, although now it sits as a vacant utilities office. In February 1919, the library moved to the K and P building on State Street, which was recently destroyed in a fire. A merchandise company bought the building, and the library board bought the Landsdown property on November 4, 1919, which is the current location of the library.
The original "Little White Library" in 1946.
Mrs. Anne Metzger became the second librarian on New Year’s of 1920. By 1930, eight thousand books had been added to the library’s original collection. Mrs. Marian Bollinger, or as she is commonly known, Marian the Librarian, began her career as the librarian administrator in 1957 after twenty-six years of being a library assistant. In the early 1960’s, Fred Graham, the library’s future benefactor, spoke of his desire to see a new home for the library, one without leaking roofs and sagging floors. Graham established a trust fund for the library’s renovation, and construction began in June of 1968. With the help of volunteers, books were temporarily moved and stored across the street in the Town Hall. While construction was underway, Theodore Schultz donated his collection of semi-precious gems as well as $20,000 to the library, along with the help of various organizations. A community fund drive topped off the $125,000 two-level addition, and in 1990 the town welcomed a new library, with facilities and room adequate for community enjoyment. Mrs. Bolinger retired in 2003 after forty-seven years as administrator, and Darci Kessi became SWPL’s fourth director, and Renee Wozniak Anderson the fifth. The library underwent renovation in 2007, which made the building handicap accessible, as well as adding meeting rooms, an enlarged children’s room, and an extensive local history and genealogy center. The children's section was dedicated to Edna Michael, the "Story Lady of South Whitley's Little White Library."
The Shultz gem collection remains on display today, and after recently acquiring the house next door, the library plans to renovate it into a teen center. In the summer of 2013, SWPL celebrates their 100th year. Join the celebration!
The cache is a magnetic micro. Watch out for muggles, especially the young and curious type!