Lincoln Heritage Public Library
🏢 Evergreen Indiana · Dale, Indiana
Lincoln Heritage Public Library
Lincoln Heritage Public Library in Dale, Indiana, grew from a one-room volunteer library founded in 1945 in honor of the region's most famous son — Abraham Lincoln, who spent his formative years just miles away in what is now Lincoln City. The current 10,000-square-foot building, dedicated in December 1991, serves North Spencer County with evening hours three nights a week, a MakerSpace with a 3D printer, a genealogy room, and Indiana State Park Passes to check out.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 105 North Wallace Street, Dale, IN 47523
Phone: (812) 937-7170
Website: lincolnheritage.lib.in.us
Plus Code: 86CM52C6+4X (Dale, IN)
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📖 About Lincoln Heritage Public Library
Lincoln Heritage Public Library traces its roots to 1938, when the Abe Lincoln Youth District Library Association formed to bring a library to Dale, Indiana, in the heart of Lincoln country in Spencer County. A one-room memorial library staffed by volunteers opened in May 1945. Formal organization accelerated in 1985 when the Dale Women's Organization launched a drive that led to a permanent facility in a renovated room at the former St. Joseph's Elementary School. The library officially became Lincoln Heritage Public Library in 1989, named for the heritage trail linking the county to Abraham Lincoln, who grew up in nearby Spencer County. Groundbreaking for the current 10,000-square-foot building on North Wallace Street took place March 2, 1991, and the library was dedicated December 8, 1991. An expansion in 2003–2004 added a computer lab, a new children's room with a storytime area, and an Indiana and Genealogy Room. The library also operates the Chrisney Branch — Indiana's first certified net-zero public library, powered by solar and geothermal energy since 2009. Lincoln Heritage is a member of Evergreen Indiana, giving cardholders access to materials from more than 100 member libraries statewide.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for the Lincoln Heritage Trail in Spencer County, where Abraham Lincoln spent his boyhood — Lincoln City and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial are just 8 miles south
- Chrisney Branch (Indiana's first net-zero public library) uses solar & geothermal power and earned Indiana's Partner in Progress Award from the Lieutenant Governor
- 10,000-square-foot Dale building dedicated December 8, 1991, with an Indiana and Genealogy Room added in 2004
- MakerSpace with 3D printing, crafting equipment, and a sensory room — rare amenities for a small-town library
- Indiana State Park Passes available to check out — cardholders can visit state parks free
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lincoln Heritage cardholders can read, research, and stream free through Indiana's statewide and consortium collections:
📚 Services
- Indiana and Genealogy Room — county history, state records, and family research resources
- MakerSpace with 3D printer, crafting equipment, and creative technology tools
- Sensory room for patrons with sensory needs
- Indiana State Park Passes — check out and visit state parks for free
- Print, copy, fax, lamination & photo printing kiosk
- Mobile printing & wireless printing; free Wi-Fi
- Meeting and study room reservations
- Interlibrary loan through Evergreen Indiana (100+ member libraries)
- Free monthly vaccination clinics (first Wednesday, 9 am–noon)
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming monthly
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult programs and book clubs
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Genealogy workshops using the Indiana and Genealogy Room
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Indiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Lincoln Heritage Public Library?
The library takes its name from the Lincoln Heritage Trail, a historic route through Spencer County commemorating Abraham Lincoln's boyhood years in the area. Lincoln grew up near present-day Lincoln City, just 8 miles south of Dale, and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is a short drive away. When the Dale Community Volunteer Library reorganized as a permanent institution in 1989, choosing the Lincoln Heritage name honored that deep local connection.
What can I check out besides books at the Dale branch?
The library offers a Library of Things program with non-traditional items, plus Indiana State Park Passes that let cardholders visit Indiana state parks free of charge. The MakerSpace has a 3D printer, crafting equipment, and a photo printing kiosk available for patron use.
Does Lincoln Heritage Public Library have a genealogy collection?
Yes. The 2003–2004 expansion added a dedicated Indiana and Genealogy Room with local county history materials, state records, and family history resources. Digital genealogy access is available through INSPIRE Indiana (which includes Legacy genealogy databases) as well as through the library's subscription to Ancestry Library Edition for in-library use.
What is the Chrisney Branch and how is it different from the Dale branch?
The Chrisney Branch at 228 North Street, Chrisney IN (phone: 812-362-8471) is the second location of Lincoln Heritage Public Library. It became Indiana's first certified net-zero public library in April 2009 using solar and geothermal technology. The Chrisney Branch earned Indiana's Partner in Progress Award from the Lieutenant Governor for its leadership in renewable energy.
📜 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.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.