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Independence Public Library (IPL) is a small public library that has stood in the same location for more than 100 years, in
Independence, Kansas Independence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,548. It was named in commemoration of the ...
. Today the library serves over thirteen thousand local residents and works in partnership with several other
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
libraries and agencies. Its motto is "creating possibilities, changing lives."


History

IPL traces its roots back to 1882 when the Ladies Library Association of Independence was tasked with finding and securing books for a small library. That goal came to fruition on December 1 of that year, when the group opened a library in the City Council room in City Hall and lined the one bookshelf with 94 books purchased for $94.25. Over the next twelve years, the Association grew the collection, moving every few years until the Association began talks with the Mayor to open a full-time home for the library. Those discussions resulted in the city agreeing to match the building funds obtained by the Association, which included a $22,50
Carnegie grant
In 1907 the library was finally opened to the public, and was then named the Carnegie Independence Public Library, located at 5th and Maple, where it still stands today. Over the years the facility has been redesigned, redecorated, and re-energized, and now stands at 13,500 square feet. In 2009 the library faced dramatic budget cuts and possible closure. After significant changes instituted by library administrators, the library experienced remarkable recovery, and in 2012 was given th
Best Small Library in America Award
, cosponsored by the
Library Journal ''Library Journal'' is an American trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional prac ...
and the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The Gates Foundation is an American private foundation founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. Based in Seattle, Washington, it was launched in 2000 and is reported to be the third largest charitable foundation in the world, holding $ ...
.


References


External links


Independence Public Library
Public libraries in Kansas Carnegie libraries in Kansas Independence, Kansas {{Kansas-struct-stub