Olney Public Library

FACTS about Olney Public Library:

* OPL was founded on Feb. 3, 1872.
** The first librarian was J.W. Wharf.
*** The first library housed only 1,725 books with only 31 listed as missing!
**** One of the library rules stated that no person, other than library staff, was allowed to handle the books on the shelves.
***** The... more »

FACTS about Olney Public Library:

* OPL was founded on Feb. 3, 1872.
** The first librarian was J.W. Wharf.
*** The first library housed only 1,725 books with only 31 listed as missing!
**** One of the library rules stated that no person, other than library staff, was allowed to handle the books on the shelves.
***** The Carnegie Library on Main St. was opened to the public on Jan. 6, 1904.
****** The first story hour held at the library was on Nov. 13, 1926. (there were over 90 children in attendance!!!)
******* In 1920, the librarian was instructed not to loan books to any families where contagious diseases existed. In 1929, it was decided to destroy all books handled by victims of smallpox!
******** Olney was one of the original member libraries in the Cumberland Trail Library System.
********* Today in 2012, the library has been around for 140 years. It started in a private home, moved to what we now call the Carnegie Library Museum, and ended where we are established now at 400 W. Main. « less