History
Established in 1913
The Plymouth Public Library (PPL) was started in 1913 through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie who awarded Plymouth Public Library $15,000, plus some local contributions. The laying of the cornerstone was on July 7, 1913 followed by a parade and speeches by local dignitaries. For several years a tax levy of one mill on each dollar of all taxable city property was levied. The first librarian was Miss Helen D. Gorton. The first books purchased were from A. C. McClurg at a cost of $25.20 and included books by O. Henry, Booth Tarkington, and Jack London. The library was formally dedicated on January 26, 1914.
Plymouth Public Library (PPL) is located in Plymouth, Indiana, and currently serves the City of Plymouth, Center Township, and West Township. PPL maintains an annual renewable contract with Polk Township and North Township to provide service to their unserved residents. PPL has established reciprocal agreements with each public library in Marshall County, and also belongs to the state reciprocal borrowing program.
As of the 2020 US Census, the service population of Plymouth Public Library’s area was 19,450 people. Per the 2023 annual report, PPL had 2,550 registered library cardholders, circulated over 230,000 physical and digital materials per year, and hosted over 8,000 people at programs. The library’s collection of over 110,000 physical items and a collection of over 500,000 digitally accessible items and databases are housed in a 35,000 sq. ft. facility.
“A library is a house of hope. It’s a place where we all, whatever our situation, can feed our ideas and develop our dreams.”
—Doug Wilhelm
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