Muncie Public Library
🏢 Muncie Public Library · Muncie, Indiana
Muncie Public Library
Founded in 1875 in City Hall, the Muncie Public Library has grown into a four-branch system anchored by the 1904 Carnegie Library — one of Indiana's few Carnegie buildings still operating as a library and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–7pm |
| Saturday | 1pm–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2005 South High Street, Muncie, IN 47302
Phone: (765) 747-8200
Website: munciepubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86GP5JG7+H2 (Muncie, IN)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Muncie Public Library
The Muncie Public Library traces its origins to 1875, when local donors organized a reading room inside Muncie's City Hall and the city appropriated its first public funds for library service. After Andrew Carnegie donated $55,000 in 1901, a new building was constructed and dedicated on January 1, 1904, at 301 E. Jackson Street — designed in the Neo-Classical style by architect Marshall S. Mahurin. Today that Carnegie Library is the oldest public building in Muncie, on the National Register of Historic Places, and houses the system's Local History and Genealogy collection. Three additional branches complete the system: Maring-Hunt Library (the main administrative branch at 2005 S. High Street, with outdoor pavilions, a community garden, and a StoryWalk trail), Kennedy Library (1700 W. McGalliard Rd.), and Centennial Library in the Whitely neighborhood (1824 E. Centennial Ave.). In 2025 Muncie Public Library celebrated 150 years of service to Delaware County, Indiana.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1875 — one of Indiana's oldest public library systems, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025
- 1904 Carnegie Library at 301 E. Jackson St. is on the National Register of Historic Places and still operates as a library
- Local History and Genealogy collection at Carnegie Library includes birth, marriage, death, census, city directory, and newspaper records for Delaware County
- Maring-Hunt branch features outdoor pavilions, a community garden, a health track, and a StoryWalk book trail
- Four branches serving Muncie-Center Township: Maring-Hunt, Kennedy, Centennial, and the historic Carnegie
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Muncie cardholders get free access to Indiana's statewide digital collections and the library's own e-material platforms:
📚 Services
- Local History and Genealogy collection at Carnegie Library (birth, marriage, death, census, newspaper archives)
- Free notary service by appointment at Maring-Hunt
- Public computers, printing, copying, and free Wi-Fi at all branches
- Meeting and program space at multiple branches
- Interlibrary loan
- Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming media
- AskRose free math and science homework help (grades 6–12)
🎸 Programs
- Ready Readers early literacy program for young children
- Great Achievers after-school program for students
- Story times at multiple branches
- Book clubs and film clubs for adults
- The BIG READ community reading program
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Job search assistance and resume workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in East-Central Indiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Muncie Public Library start, and why does it have a Carnegie building?
The library began in 1875 when local donors organized a reading room inside Muncie City Hall — the city's first publicly funded library effort. In 1901, industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated $55,000 to the city, and the new Neo-Classical Carnegie Library opened at 301 E. Jackson Street on January 1, 1904. It is the oldest public building in Muncie, one of 164 Carnegie libraries in Indiana, and still operates as a specialty library housing the Local History and Genealogy collection.
Which branch is the main branch of the Muncie Public Library?
The Maring-Hunt Library at 2005 S. High Street is the main administrative branch, serving the south side of Muncie. It offers full library services including story times, programs, free notary service by appointment, and an outdoor space with pavilions, a community garden, a health track, and a StoryWalk trail. Hours are Monday through Friday 10 am–7 pm and Saturday 1–5 pm.
What is the Local History and Genealogy collection at Carnegie?
The Carnegie Library at 301 E. Jackson Street houses Muncie Public Library's Local History and Genealogy collection, which focuses on Muncie and Delaware County. It includes biographies, birth and death records, cemetery indexes, city directories, county histories, court records, deeds, family files, funeral home records, maps, marriage records, newspapers, probate records, and school yearbooks. Carnegie is open Tuesday through Friday 10 am–5 pm.
Can I access Indiana's INSPIRE databases from home?
Yes. INSPIRE (Indiana's Lifelong Learning Library) gives every Indiana resident — including Muncie cardholders — free access to more than 70 online databases covering magazines, newspapers, academic journals, historical records, and more. Visit inspire.in.gov and create a free account using your Indiana address; no library card is required.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 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 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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