Muncie Public Library, Muncie, Indiana
Posted by: 
boatchick
N 40° 11.562 W 085° 23.037
16T E 637560 N 4450397
The Muncie Carnegie Library faces an uncertain future.
Waymark Code: WM63E3
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 03/26/2009
Views: 7
In 1901, the city of Muncie received a $50,000 Carnegie grant. Architect Marshall S. Mahurin of Fort Wayne, who also designed the
1893 Fort Wayne City Hall, designed the classical revival building. The cornerstone was laid on 1 June 1902, and the official opening was 1 January 1904. Above the entrance is the legend "This building the gift of Andrew Carnegie. Built anno Domini 1902." On either side of this are reliefs of female figures, identified as Law, Science, Prose, Art, Poetry, and Music.
The Muncie Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 17 June 1976 as building #76000019. Ten years later, the library received the Althea Stoeckel Award for Historic Preservation for the renovation of the interior of the building. Today, the Muncie Public Library faces financial troubles after a 44% funding cut which necessitates the closing of two branches in 2009. Plans are to close the Local History building and move its collections to the low-circulation Carnegie library, but the Carnegie library itself may be a target for closure in 2010.
References:
Jones, Theodore. Carnegie Libraries Across America
Muncie Public Library
National Register of Historic Places