The Atlanta Public Library, serving the small community on Hamilton County’s northern border for more than a century, will likely close soon. It was one of five Carnegie libraries in Hamilton County and the last to operate in its original building at 100 S. Walnut St.
Decreasing use of the library along with budget constraints are the reasons for a decision by the Hamilton North Library Board to close and sell the building when an acceptable buyer is established, according to library director Ann Hoehn.
Hamilton North has another more popular library at Cicero which serves Jackson Township. Atlanta Library once served the entire township, but population growth in the southern part of the district led to construction of the Cicero facility some years ago.
Sale of the Atlanta building is pending. Five offers were received with the highest being $200,000. The Town of Atlanta also wants the Carnegie building for municipal uses and offered $60,000. The higher offer was accepted, but the board is awaiting possible further action by the town before closing the sale.
In any case, interested buyers have indicated they will not alter the appearance of the building, which is typical of Carnegie libraries built across the nation in the early years of the 20th century with grants from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Interestingly, Hamilton County had the second most Carnegie libraries of any county in the Indiana. They were located in Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield and Sheridan as well as Atlanta. The other four original buildings are still standing and are now used for other purposes. The former Noblesville library, for example, is now the north wing of City Hall.
Fred Swift has worked in newspapers for decades. He has been sharing his opinions in the pages of The Reporter since it began. Email him at swiftfred19@gmail.com.