Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library
🏢 Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library · Bicknell, Indiana
Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library
Built in 1991 on the former site of Vaught's Paint Shop and funded by local benefactor Harold Huffman in memory of his wife Marjorie — a beloved teacher and librarian — Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library serves Knox County's coalfield community with generous evening hours, genealogy resources, and INSPIRE statewide databases.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 201 West 2nd Street, BICKNELL, IN 47512
Phone: +1812-735-2317
Website: bicknell-vigo.lib.in.us
Plus Code: 86CJQMFR+4P (BICKNELL, IN)
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📖 About Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library
Bicknell-Vigo Township Public Library serves the city of Bicknell and Vigo Township in Knox County, southwestern Indiana — a region shaped by a century of coal mining along the eastern edge of the Illinois Basin. The library's history dates to 1927, when local residents pooled donated books with 200 volumes from an Indiana University Traveling Library, and Mrs. Emma Perkins, wife of a Standard Oil manager, volunteered as its first librarian. The library gained tax support in 1929 when Vigo Township contracted for services, and it achieved Class I Public Library status on February 23, 1952. The current building opened in September 1991, constructed on the former site of Vaught's Paint Shop; Harold Huffman purchased the land and funded construction as a memorial to his wife Marjorie, a longtime teacher and librarian who had a profound impact on the community. The Sandborn Branch, also a Huffman gift, extends service to the neighboring township. Today the library serves approximately 5,235 residents and offers evening hours four nights a week — one of the longer evening schedules for a community of Bicknell's size — along with genealogy resources, fiction specializations, and INSPIRE Indiana statewide digital access.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1927 with donated books and 200 volumes from an Indiana University Traveling Library; first librarian Mrs. Emma Perkins was a volunteer
- Current building (1991) memorializes Marjorie Huffman, a beloved local teacher and librarian, funded by her husband Harold Huffman on the site of Vaught's Paint Shop
- Class I Public Library status achieved February 23, 1952; Vigo Township joined the district in 1929, creating the current joint township governance
- Four evenings per week open until 8pm — generous hours for a community of ~5,200, supporting students and working families in Knox County
- Sandborn Branch also funded by the Huffman family, extending library service to the neighboring rural township
- Adult fiction reorganized with separate sections for Christian Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mysteries, and Westerns for easier browsing
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Bicknell-Vigo cardholders can research, read, and learn free through Indiana's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, DVD and magazine borrowing for all ages
- Genealogy research collection and resources
- INSPIRE statewide databases — free for all Indiana residents
- Libby / OverDrive e-book and audiobook borrowing
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through Indiana state network
- Sandborn Branch extending service to neighboring township
- Fiction specialty sections: Christian Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mysteries, Westerns
🎸 Programs
- Children's programming — Kid's Corner with age-appropriate activities
- Teen resources and young adult programming
- Summer reading programs for children, teens and adults
- Community gathering and civic programs for Knox County residents
📍 Nearby Libraries in Knox County & Southwestern Indiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Harold and Marjorie Huffman and why is the library connected to them?
Marjorie Huffman was a long-serving teacher and librarian in Bicknell who had a deep impact on generations of Knox County students and readers. After her death, her husband Harold Huffman purchased the former Vaught's Paint Shop property on West 2nd Street and funded the construction of the current library building, which opened in September 1991, as a memorial to her. Harold also donated the Sandborn Branch, making the Huffman family the primary benefactors of both library locations.
What is INSPIRE and how do Bicknell residents access it?
INSPIRE is Indiana's statewide virtual library, supported by the Indiana General Assembly and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It provides free access to databases covering academic research, health information, consumer reports, genealogy through Legacy, language learning via Rosetta Stone (24 languages), and Indiana newspaper archives. All Indiana residents can access INSPIRE at inspire.in.gov — no library card is required for many resources, though your Bicknell-Vigo card unlocks additional content.
Does Bicknell-Vigo Township Library have a branch in Sandborn?
Yes. The Sandborn Branch, also donated by the Huffman family, serves the neighboring township. The Sandborn Branch is open Monday–Friday 1pm–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm. Both locations share the same library system, catalog, and card — a single Bicknell-Vigo library card grants access to both branches.
What genealogy resources are available at the Bicknell-Vigo Library?
The library maintains a genealogy collection and provides access to INSPIRE's genealogy databases, including Legacy genealogy records and historical Indiana newspaper archives through Newspapers.com. Staff can assist with research questions during open hours. Knox County's records, including coal-industry and early settlement materials, can be relevant to researchers tracing southwestern Indiana family histories.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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