Madison-Jefferson County Public Library

There it remained until 1929, when a bond issue was secured for the purchase of the Powell House (above), located at the corner of Main and Elm. The library moved to this address in 1930. A Children’s Room was opened in 1954, made possible by a $5,000 donation from Mrs. Anna G. Powell. A bookmobile was added in 1956, which traveled a regular route to nine substations and every school in the county. The bookmobile, mounted on a 3/4 ton Chevrolet truck chassis, was a $3,000 investment and had a carrying capacity of 3,000 volumes. This vehicle was replaced in 1972 with one costing $6,500. It remained in use until 2002, when the Library Board of Trustees purchased a van to be used for library outreach services.

A Major Overhaul
In 1966 the building underwent major changes and construction, a two-year project. Bulging with 75,000 volumes, the library had reached its capacity, so bids were let for a new library. To provide a temporary site, the Library Board rented a large heated space in the garage of the Madison Armory, as well as four offices on the first floor.

Ground was broken for the new facility on March 2, 1966, which would include a new addition as well as extensive remodeling of the house itself. Full services were restored in November, 1967, with the formal dedication held on April 21, 1968. In the intervening time, a new façade was built, taking the front of the
building to the sidewalk. Columns and a new
entryway were added as a way of capturing
Greek Revival architectural elements so common in other Madison buildings. On the Elm Street side, a new auditorium capable of seating 125 was added. A conference room and additional space were provided upstairs, while downstairs a large reading room with reference section was created. A mezzanine took shape over part of the reading room, which now houses the library’s genealogy and local history holdings. The basement of the new addition houses stacks and the Children’s Room. The carriage house was retained at the back of the property and now serves as the library’s storage facility.

Today’s Pride
In 2001, the library went digital. Our circulation system and catalog are now online and we offer high speed and wireless internet access for our patrons. The collection numbers about 117,000 items including books, videos, DVDs, books on CD and tape , as well as CDRoms. Circulation has increased to almost 209,000 items per year, and we offer programs and services today that our founders could never have envisioned. Through it all, we remain a place where convivial conversation, helpful staff and friendly smiles encourage the citizenry of Madison to enjoy their library