Akron Carnegie Public Library
🏢 Evergreen Indiana · Akron, Indiana
Akron Carnegie Public Library
The Akron Carnegie Public Library has served Fulton County from its original 1915 Carnegie building at 205 East Rochester Street — one of the lasting monuments to a $12,000 Andrew Carnegie grant secured by the community in 1913. The cornerstone ceremony in October 1914 drew a crowd of 750 to 1,000 residents, reflecting the town's deep pride in public learning.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 205 E Rochester Street, Akron, IN 46910
Phone: (574) 893-4113
Website: akron.lib.in.us
Plus Code: 86HM2XQF+C5 (Akron, IN)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Akron Carnegie Public Library
Akron's library history stretches back to the informal book collections kept in local drugstores and merchant shops before 1870. It was Rev. M. H. Krause and a small band of civic-minded residents who formalized the effort in 1912, launching the library on August 19 of that year with 260 volumes housed above a meat market on a $4-per-month lease. Within the first month, 189 books circulated and 98 cents were collected in fines — modest numbers that masked the community's appetite for the institution. Rev. Krause then pursued Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic program, securing a $12,000 grant in 1913 (a later report cites the pledge as $12,500). A site was purchased and expanded when a board member donated adjacent property; the cornerstone was laid October 28, 1914, with a parade of school children, civic groups, and the Akron Band. The purpose-built Carnegie library opened October 21, 1915. Today the Akron Carnegie Public Library remains in that same historic building, serving the town of Akron in Fulton County as part of the Evergreen Indiana consortium, which connects patrons to the holdings of more than 130 libraries across the state.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Housed in the original 1915 Andrew Carnegie building, opened after a landmark cornerstone ceremony attended by 750–1,000 residents in October 1914
- Founded in 1912 through the initiative of Rev. M. H. Krause — just 260 books above a meat market grew into a permanent Carnegie institution
- Indiana State Museum passes available for checkout — covers up to four general admissions to the Indiana State Museum and all 12 historic sites statewide
- Part of Evergreen Indiana, giving cardholders access to more than 130 member libraries' combined collections
- Open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, with consistent 9 am open across the entire week
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Akron Carnegie cardholders can read, stream, and research free through Indiana's statewide and consortium digital offerings:
📚 Services
- Indiana State Museum passes — up to four general admissions per 7-day checkout
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and scanning
- Interlibrary loan through Evergreen Indiana (130+ member libraries)
- Wi-Fi hotspot lending
- Reference and readers advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Adult continuing education through Gale Courses
- Community events and author programs
- Friends of the Library activities
📍 Nearby Libraries in Fulton & Surrounding Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Akron Carnegie Public Library building constructed, and how was it funded?
Rev. M. H. Krause secured a grant of $12,000 (some accounts say $12,500) from Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic program in 1913. The cornerstone was laid on October 28, 1914, at a ceremony drawing 750–1,000 residents plus a parade of school children and civic groups. The library opened in the new building on October 21, 1915, and that original Carnegie structure is still in use today.
Does the Akron Carnegie Public Library offer Indiana State Museum passes?
Yes. The library offers Indiana State Museum passes that can be checked out at the front desk with a valid adult Akron library card. Each pass is good for up to four complimentary general admissions to the Indiana State Museum and all 12 Historic Site locations across Indiana. Passes are loaned for seven days; note that special exhibitions and IMAX screenings are not included.
What is the Evergreen Indiana consortium, and why does it matter to Akron patrons?
Evergreen Indiana is a shared catalog and resource-sharing network connecting more than 130 public, school, and institutional libraries across Indiana. Your Akron Carnegie library card works at any Evergreen member library, and you can request items from the full consortium collection — greatly expanding what's available beyond Akron's own shelves.
What are the library's hours, and is it open on weekends?
The library is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. It is closed on Sundays.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
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