About GPL

Mission Statement
The mission of the Greentown & Eastern Howard School Public Library is to provide quality resources and endless possibilities for all to create, discover, share, learn and connect, including empowering students to seek, use and generate information.

Vision Statement
The Greentown & Eastern Howard School Public Library will cultivate life-long learning and foster a welcoming environment for all ages. We will provide access to information and knowledge that will inspire ideas and build community.

Values
We believe the library is vital to the intellectual and creative lives of the people we serve.

We are committed to:

Access
Service
Life-long learning
Intellectual and academic freedom
Collaboration
Growth and Innovation
Mutual respect and civility
Responsible stewardship

Library History
The Greentown Public Library was established in 1919 and was housed in the town hall.  The library outgrew the space and was relocated to the Greentown High School in 1926. The library consolidated with the school corporation when Greentown, Union and Jackson Townships merged in 1950. That same year, the library converted to the new library law of 1947 and became a library district.

The consolidation between the school and the library was considered the most fiscally responsible way to use taxpayer dollars. In 1953 the library once again moved to another location so their current space could be used for classroom purposes. The library resided in the rear of the local bank building until it was moved to the new elementary school in 1955.

Although the library had merged with the school corporation in 1950, it wasn’t until 1964 that the library formed a Township Library District with Union and Jackson Townships. This increased the tax base and provided library services to more people.

The Palm Sunday Tornado of 1965 changed the library dynamics. Both the high school and elementary buildings were damaged or destroyed. When the new junior/senior high school was completed in 1967, the teen/adult collection was moved to the new facility and the juvenile collection remained at the remodeled elementary school. The advantageous partnership with the school still remains, which makes the library very unique as it is public and serves as the school library. (Margi Bongrager & Carol Petro)