Rockford Carnegie Library

History:

• January 17, 1902  Mrs. Barbour inspired town to set up a library.
• January 1, 1903 the first library room was opened in  the Dysert Opera house.  Residents of Rockford could borrow books for 10 cents each or $1.00 for a whole year.
• 1905 the town council agreed to add a 1 1/2 mill tax levy with the libray receiving $175.00 of the proceeds. 
• 1906 marked the beginning of the Free Rockford Library with Mrs. D. C. Kinder as the librarian working for $.50/day.                                                                                
• 1910 the library was opened free to Dublin township residents and later to the whole county.
• Around this time Miss Mary Downey, an Ohio State Organizer advised the library to apply for a grant from Andrew Carnegie for a building. 
• May 1, 1913 the dedication of the Rockford Carnegie Library was held with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Carnegies.  
• 1927 the library was reorganized under the School Board plan.
• 1969 the library was doubled in size with a new addition. 
• 1988 a Friends of the Library group was organized.
• In the 1990's the library received new windows, a new side entrance, an elevette and new restrooms. These renovations allowed the building to become handicapped accessible.
• 1995 the upstairs was redecorated and space made for public access computers.