Contacting the Library

Hillenbrand Collection at the BMPLBatesville Memorial Public Library
131 North Walnut Street
Batesville, IN 47006

Phone: 812.934.4706        Email        Web: ebatesville.com/library

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Hours of Operation

The library is open   Monday through Thursday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
                                Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
                                Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
                                Sunday (October through April): 1:00 - 5:00 pm

The library is closed on the following days:
New Year's Day            Good Friday            Easter Sunday            Memorial Day            Independence Day
Labor Day                    Thanksgiving           Christmas Eve            Christmas Day           New Year's Eve Day

Closings due to the weather are announced on WRBI 103.9 FM

 

Library Mangagement

Library Director                                                              Board of Trustees
Michael J. Kruse, MLS                                                        Anne Amrhein                    Ron Simons
Librarian I certification, Indiana State Library                           Lisa Barnett                       Nick Stewart
                                                                                         Chris Fairchild                    Nance Widdowson
                                                                                         Autumn Hurm

The BMPL Board of Trustees meets monthly at the library at 7:00 pm.  See the Event and Meeting Calendar for dates.

Strategic Plan [PDF]                Policies                    Technology Plan [PDF]

 

Getting a Library Card

There are several kinds of borrower's cards at the BMPL:

To obtain a borrower's card at the BMPL, one must show proof of identification and residence (such as a driver's license, current utility bill, or other official form).  If under the age of 16, the person's parent or legal guardian must also sign the application card indicating responsibility for items checked out from the BMPL.

The library issues two versions of its borrower's card: one credit card-sized for wallet or purse, and the other smaller one that can be attached to a key ring or chain.  These cards are mailed to the borrower usually within two days of application and payment (if any).

Other borrowing rules and policies apply.  Please contact the library for details.                                                               

Library District

BMPL District Map

As of January 1, 1997, the Batesville Memorial Public Library District includes the City of Batesville in Ripley and Franklin Counties, Indiana, and that area of Ripley County within the district of the Batesville Community School Corporation (portions of Laughery and Adams Townships), and all of Ray Township in Franklin County.

Click on the map to the left to view the BMPL Library District map (area in blue).  Click your browser's "Back" button to return to this page.

 

Batesville Memorial Public Library: Some Background

The first lending library in Batesville grew from the efforts of Sophia Nickel, Anna Wachsmann and Minnie Wycoff who were librarians at the Batesville High School.  The public was able to utilize the school library for one hour each week during the period from 1910 to 1927.

In 1927 services improved as the Indiana State Library gave local patrons access to a circulating collection owned by the state.  As books and borrowers increased, the Parent-Teacher Association became involved and moved the library to the American Legion Hall.

The grade school became the library location in 1933 after the generous gift of 200 volumes by Michael F. Bohland.  Five years later this arrangement was becoming crowded and space was found at the Memorial Building.

On February 7, 1938, the library was officially organized under the state Public Library Law.  Members of the first board of trustees were: Mrs. Michael F. Bohland, Mr. E. P. Cassidy, Miss Nora Wonning, Mrs. Will J. Gelvin, Mrs. Harry Blank, Mr. E. E. Taylor and Mr. Orlando J. Schorr.  Mrs. Clarence Greeman was the first librarian with a book budget of $25 per year and hours of operation limited to one hour each week.  Hours were increased in 1940 to 3 1/2  hours per week and an exchange of books from the Indiana State Library every 3 months.

Mrs. Greeman resigned in January 1943 and was succeeded by Mrs. Vera Gibson until December 1944.  Mrs.Hazel Andres at the desk Hazel Andres (see photo at right) was appointed librarian in January 1945 and held the post for the next thirty years.  She classified and catalogued the collection and installed a charging system to meet the requirements of the state library.  Hours were again increased, as well as the budget, which resulted in the library having 2,293 books, 246 borrowers and a circulation of 1,053 at the end of 1945.

By 1951 the entire second floor of the Memorial Building had been taken over to accommodate the 1,000 borrowers and 7,300 volumes.  (See photos)

The community experienced great excitement in 1966 when the John A. Hillenbrand Foundation announced its intention to fund a new library as a memorial to John and Clara Hillenbrand.  The new Batesville Memorial Public Library opened its doors in July 1974.  (See photos)

Mrs. Andres retired in 1975 after having managed two transitions and was replaced by Peggy Markwalter, who after one year of service was replaced by Carol Cowles.  Miss Cowles resigned after three years of directing the library and was succeeded by Miss Julie Hersberger in 1979.

The library experienced another expansion which doubled the floor space and made the Batesville Memorial Public Library a show place for the city.  The expansion was funded by George C. and Margaret M. Hillenbrand and dedicated on October 2, 1988.

The above information is from Ripley County History : 1818-1988 : Ripley County, Indiana.

Miss Hersberger resigned in 1991 and was replaced by Charlotte Davis.  Under Ms. Davis' directorship, the library was automated and plans were begun to expand the library service district.  Michael Kruse, who earned his M.L.S. degree from the School of Information and Library Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1993 was hired in June of that year.  Ms. Davis directed the library until March, 1995.  Kruse served as interim director from March until May, 1995, when he was appointed director.  He continues to serve as the library's director to the present day.


In April, 1999, the library dedicated a room within the library as the Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship, a center of information and resources for the entrepreneur and small business community.  In March, 2003, the library purchased the former Cinergy office building on Boehringer Street, with adjacent parking extending to Schrader Street.  The library allowed the Batesville Area Historical Society to use the building, now called the Library Annex, rent-free for display, storage and office space until late summer, 2007.  At that time, demand for meeting space required that the library use some of the display space at the Annex for meetings.  The Historical Society decided to remove all of their items from the Annex, and the library then added Internet access, tables, chairs and other improvements for additional community meeting space.

 Organization of the Year Award from the RAAThe Batesville Memorial Public Library received the 2003-2004 Organization of the Year award from the Rural Alliance for the Arts.  The library was recognized for its contributions to the arts in our community, especially for the addition of the sculpture on Walnut Street, the After Hours Concert Series, our circulating art print collection, and our cooperation with the RAA in letting them use our meeting room and display facilities.  We at the BMPL are grateful for the recognition and appreciate being able to add to the cultural climate of the Batesville community.
 

A tax-supported institution, the library serves as a center for information and community activities, with a growing collection of circulating materials, reference materials and services, and programs and meeting rooms used by a variety ofSculpture at the library individuals and organizations.  Besides the Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship, the Batesville Memorial Public Library is unique in its special collections:  The Hillenbrand Family Library, The 352nd Fighter Group Memorial Aviation Collection, The Miriam E. Mason Collection, and our Oral History Collection, plus features such as its Summer Reading Program for all ages, and the almost-monthly After Hours Concert Series presented free to the public.  In September, 2002, near the Walnut Street entrance, the library installed a sculpture, "Paper Airplanes: Journeys of the Imagination" by Gary Price of Springville, Utah.  The sculpture symbolizes the library's commitment to be the place "where information inspires imagination."

The Batesville Memorial Public Library is a member of the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (INCOLSA), a statewide network of over 700 libraries of all types: public, school, academic and special. INCOLSA's mission is to assure that all Indiana residents receive the best possible library and information services by providing a cooperative, statewide structure for information and resource sharing.  In addition, the library is a member of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce. The library is also a member of the Indiana Library Video Network, an assemblage of Indiana Public Libraries, along with INCOLSA and the Indiana State Library, that utilize IP-based videoconferencing for meetings and continuing education opportunities.  In 2005, in recognition of meeting the criteria for presentation of professional development programming, the BMPL was certified as a Presentation Site by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration.  Individual library staff persons are members of the American Library Association, Public Library Association, and, along with the library Trustees, the Indiana Library Federation.