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Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday 9am - 8pm Wednesday 9am - 8pm Thursday 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Plainfield | Guilford Township Public Library

Name: Plainfield | Guilford Township Public Library
Address: 1120 Stafford Road, Plainfield, IN, 46168, US
Telephone: (317) 839-6602
Price range: Not applicable

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Plainfield | Guilford Township Public Library

Come Imagine, Create, And Connect With Us!

The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library is the heart of culture, information, and life-long learning in Plainfield and Guilford Township.

12/10/2024

The Budgeting for 2025 program scheduled for Thursday, December 12 has been cancelled due to a conflict with the speaker's availability.

12/09/2024

: “L. S. Ayres & Company: The Store at the Crossroads of America” by Kenneth L. Turchi

In 1872 Lyman Ayres acquired a controlling interest in the Trade Palace, a dry-goods store in Indianapolis. Two years later, he bought out his partners and renamed the establishment L. S. Ayres and Company. For the next century, Ayres was as much a part of Indianapolis as Monument Circle or the Indianapolis 500.

Generations of Midwestern families visited the vast store to shop for everything from furs to television sets, to see the animated Christmas windows, and, of course to visit Santa Claus and enjoy lunch in the Tea Room.

But Ayres was more than just a department store. At its helm across three generations was a team of visionary retailers who took the store from its early silk-and-calico days to a diversified company with interests in specialty stores, discount stores (before Target and Wal-Mart there was AyrWay), and even grocery stores. At the same time, Ayres never lost sight of its commitment to women's fashion that gave the store the same cachet as its larger competitors in New York and Chicago.

What was the secret of Ayres's success? In this book, Ken Turchi traces the store's history through three wars, the Great Depression, and the changing tastes and shopping habits of America in the 1960s and 1970s. Along the way, he describes the store's phenomenal growth while offering a behind-the-scenes look at this beloved and trusted institution.

This book is available in the Indiana Circulating collection on the shelf at IC 381.141 Turchi. Or, follow this link to put it on hold: https://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/opac/record/20890922

12/09/2024

THURSDAY: Budgeting for 2025

It's time to get financially fit! Join this hands-on budgeting workshop with local CPA Xiao Yu to get set for 2025. Bring your laptop or use a library device to create your budget for the year.

Thursday, December 12 | 6-7:30p | West

12/09/2024

The Indiana Room has a new sculpture honoring past Plainfield, Indiana, librarian Mayme Snipes!

This artwork is a tribute to one of PGTPL’s trailblazing professionals. Created by Indiana sculptor Duane King and delivered on November 19, she proudly sits on the credenza just inside the Indiana Room. Mr. King created a remarkable likeness of her, given that he only had two photographs to work from–none of which was a portrait. The project was funded by the Indiana Room Gift Fund.

For more about Mayme, read on:

Mayme Snipes was one of the first professional librarians to work at the Plainfield library. Hired in 1909,she was responsible for many innovations. She introduced children’s story hour, began creating clipping and photo files, and started a historical collection. Mayme oversaw the construction of the Carnegie library on South Center Street and supervised the training of other library workers. She was instrumental in the creation of the library’s 1916 Auto Book Wagon (aka the first bookmobile in the state of Indiana) and implementing rural book service. This service not only included Guilford Township residents, but also Liberty and Washington townships.

After ten years working here in her hometown, Mayme went on to work for the Indiana State Library, the Switzerland County Library in Vevay, and the Columbia City library. She owned a cabin in Brown County, where she helped organize the Brown County library as well. Never marrying, she lived rather adventurously for a small-town Hoosier woman of her time.

In 1929 and 1930 she sailed to Europe, touring gardens and villages off the beaten path in England. Then, in 1934 she took a Caribbean cruise on the Duchess of Bedford, returning from Nassau, Bahamas via plane to Miami, when air travel for recreation was still a rarity. In 1939 she moved to Bloomington where she kept busy with club memberships and visiting her Brown County cabin to host house parties. She fell ill in the fall of 1941 and died in December while visiting friends in Indianapolis.

Mayme Snipes is buried in Plainfield’s Maple Hill Cemetery.

12/09/2024

TONIGHT: Join our open play chess club! Open to amateur chess players and USCF members alike. All rating levels welcome! Chess boards and refreshments are provided.
Children who have played in tournaments before are welcome (with parental supervision)! Play one or 10 games. Any format, any time control. Come test your chess skill!
Today, December 9 | 5-7:30p | West

12/09/2024

THIS WEEK AT PGTPL: Our Children's Room at PGTPL is hosting an art supply swap (drop off supplies all week, then attend the swap Saturday!). In PGTPL Teen Central, make a mini yeti or edible DNA helix! Adults will get ready to start the new year on the right foot with "Budgeting for 2025." Join us!

Monday, December 9:
10a Amazing Artists (for children)
3:15p Dungeon Drop-In (for teens)
5p Art With Kids: String Art (for children)
5p Open Play Chess (for adults)
All Day Kids Art Supply Drop Off (for children)

Tuesday, December 10:
10a Tiny Tinkerers (for children)
2p Crafty Crew: Painted Winter Jars (registration required; for adults)
3:15p Teens Can Sew: Mini Yeti (for teens)
5p Family Storytime: Cozy Winter (for children)
All Day Kids Art Supply Drop Off (for children)

Wednesday, December 11:
10a STEAM Station (for children)
3:15p Teens Craft: Tree Tassels (for teens)
5p Build It: LEGO® Bricks (for children)
All Day Kids Art Supply Drop Off (for children)

Thursday, December 12:
10a Music and Movement (for children)
2p Homeschool: Coffee Filter Crafts (for children)
3:15p STEM Challenge: Edible DNA Helix (for teens)
6p Budgeting for 2025 (for adults)
All Day Kids Art Supply Drop Off (for children)

Friday, December 13:
10a Storytime Steps (for children)
All Day Kids Art Supply Drop Off (for children)

Saturday, December 14:
9a Kids Art Supply Swap (registration required; for children)

Sunday, November 15: no programs

12/05/2024

NEXT WEEK: Budgeting for 2025

It's time to get financially fit! Join this hands-on budgeting workshop with local CPA Xiao Yu to get set for 2025. Bring your laptop or use a library device to create your budget for the year.

Thursday, December 12 | 6-7:30p | West

12/05/2024

MONDAY: Join our open play chess club! Open to amateur chess players and USCF members alike. All rating levels welcome! Chess boards and refreshments are provided.
Children who have played in tournaments before are welcome (with parental supervision)! Play one or 10 games. Any format, any time control. Come test your chess skill!

Monday, December 9 | 5-7:30p | West

12/02/2024

Ever notice that some of our adult programs happen every single month? Well here's the place to find out about each one for the month of December! Some events require registration, which you can do at plainfieldlibrary.libnet.info/events!

11/28/2024

THANKSGIVING HOURS: The library is closed today in observance of Thanksgiving.

11/27/2024

IN TWO WEEKS: Budgeting for 2025

It's time to get financially fit! Join this hands-on budgeting workshop with local CPA Xiao Yu to get set for 2025. Bring your laptop or use a library device to create your budget for the year.

Thursday, December 12 | 6-7:30p | West

11/27/2024

THANKSGIVING HOURS: The library will close at 5p on today, 11/27 and will remain closed Thursday, 11/28 in observance of Thanksgiving.

11/25/2024

From comedy to horror and everything in between, our collection has plenty of films set on or around Thanksgiving. Check out these movie suggestions for the holiday weekend!
https://www.plainfieldlibrary.net/thanksgiving-cinema

11/25/2024

TODAY: Join our open play chess club! Open to amateur chess players and USCF members alike. All rating levels welcome! Chess boards and refreshments are provided.
Children who have played in tournaments before are welcome (with parental supervision)! Play one or 10 games. Any format, any time control. Come test your chess skill!

Today, November 25 | 5-7:30p | West

11/22/2024

ATTENTION: This weekend, the Evergreen Indiana ILS is upgrading to version 3.13. Some services will be unavailable during this time. You can still check items out at the library using our selfcheck machines. Here's what you can expect:

11/21/2024

COMING SOON: Budgeting for 2025

It's time to get financially fit! Join this hands-on budgeting workshop with local CPA Xiao Yu to get set for 2025. Bring your laptop or use a library device to create your budget for the year.

Thursday, December 12 | 6-7:30p | West

11/21/2024

THANKSGIVING HOURS: The library will close at 5p on Wednesday, 11/27 and will remain closed Thursday, 11/28 in observance of Thanksgiving.

11/21/2024

Address

1120 Stafford Road
Plainfield, IN
46168

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 8pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(317) 839-6602

Website

http://www.plainfieldlibrary.net/

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Our Story

The Library's History

Plainfield's first public library facility opened June 4, 1901, in rented rooms at 120 East Main Street in Plainfield. A group of private citizens, incorporated as the Plainfield Library Association, gathered 414 gift books for public use. Coal oil lamps lit the Reading Room at night.

By January 27, 1904, the book collection numbered 1,278 and the library reopened in a new frame building at 130 North Vine Street. The $1,500 structure was financed by personal subscriptions from Association members, gifts of local business people and the profits from minstrel shows.

Almost as soon as the Town of Plainfield was incorporated in the spring of 1905, the Library Association gave its new building, completely furnished, to the town. From May 8, 1905, it was known as the Plainfield Public Library, and it has been tax-supported and administered by a Library Board since.

On January 27, 1913, the library moved into the Carnegie building at 120 South Center Street. In June of 1916, Plainfield Public Library began the first bookmobile service in Indiana. This weekly service to rural homes and schools covered Guilford, Washington and Liberty townships until 1924.

After 55 years in the old Carnegie, the library moved again, nearer the center of the 14,500 population it served. The building at the corner of Simmons Street and Stafford Road opened on October 4, 1968.

In response to a steady growth of library services and in numbers of library users, ground was broken on April 13, 1986, for an addition to the 1968 building. The addition was occupied in October 1986 and renovation began on the existing 1968 building. The renovated portion was occupied in January 1987. Formal dedication for the complete project was September 20, 1987.

The ensuing years brought many changes in information technology and continued growth in materials inventory, borrowers and circulation. Internet service was added and proved to be immensely popular with the public, as well as aiding library staff in information retrieval.

By August 1998, the library housed 127,000 volumes and an average of 17,500 visits to the library were made each month. The previous year's circulation had numbered 280,000 items, an increase of 42% during the previous decade. If Plainfield and Guilford Township residents had bought--rather than borrowed--the materials, they would have spent about $3.5 million dollars.

The Library Board voted to begin an expansion and renovation program. The 1968 building was razed, additions were made on the north and west side of the 1986 building, and a parking lot was added on the north side of the building. Once the additional space was built, the library operations moved in and the 1986 building was renovated. By late August 2000, all of the library's collections had moved into their final locations. The final project was dedicated on September 30, 2000. The library was renamed Plainfield | Guilford Township Public Library to better reflect the area it has served for over a century.

Check out some historical library photos in our photo album here on facebook!

**This and more information can be found on the library's webpage, at www.plainfieldlibrary.net