Paris Bourbon County Library celebrates its 120th anniversary this February. A tea and talk will be hosted at the library on Sunday, February 16th at 2:00 pm.
Sunday’s event will presented in a high-tea setting indicative of the time period, and will include a historical recitation of the founding and formation of the library, featuring members of the Triple Crown Theater Group. Director Mark Adler will read the original charter from Andrew Carnegie, and City Commissioner Sharon Fields will share stories from her long career with the library. Refreshments from Hopewell Bake Exchange and Happy People Coffee will be on offered.
The idea of creating a library for Paris was first proposed as early as 1899, with members from The City Federation of Clubs and originally meeting to discuss and plan various carnivals, literary, and musical events to raise money for the purchase of land and building. When Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist, began to offer financial assistance funding libraries across the country, the group came up with the idea of asking the City officers to approach him about contributing to one in Paris. After much letter writing, editorializing and wringing of hands, ground was broken for the library in 1905.
On May 4, 1967, the library became a tax-supported institution, freely available to all residents of Paris and Bourbon County. Soon after, a renovation project was begun and the former basement was enlarged to become the first floor of the building. Another construction and renovation project was begun in 1988, adding a two-story addition and remodeling the entire facility.
In 2007, planning began for another expansion project to bring the library into the twenty-first century and allow space for additional materials and programs. Ground was broken in July of 2014 for what would become a two-story, modern addition featuring natural materials, state-of-the-art electrical, media, and HVAC systems, and bright new spaces for community activities. The grand opening of the expanded and renovated facility was held on February 8, 2016, and the beautiful new building was even featured on the cover of American Libraries magazine’s 2016 design issue.
Today, the library’s original collection of 5,484 books has increased more than tenfold. The library has also expanded into other media, from graphic novels to ebooks, and programs, from movie screenings to teen clubs, that no one imagined in 1904. Andrew Carnegie would surely be astounded and pleased by the array of materials and services that the library now offers.