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Second Lady’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge

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Need more Summer Reading?  Join the Second Lady’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge!  Kids in grades K-8 can submit the books they have already read for HCPL’s Summer Reading Challenge to receive a personalized certificate and letter, an America 250 bookmark, a small prize, and a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C.

To enter the challenge:

  1. Download the Summer Reading Challenge Tracker
  2. Log 12 books between June 1 – September 4
  3. Submit your reading at https://www.whitehouse.gov/read/submit/ by September 4, 2026

For more information, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/read/

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

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Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

Baseball, “America’s National Pastime,” has been a popular sport in our area throughout the county’s history. Enjoy these photos of past local teams from the Sports section of HCPL’s Corydon Photograph Collection.

baseball1Corydon adult league champions, 1955.

Front row (l-r): Rupert Baxley, Sonny Hurst, Oddie Schmidt, Ottie Case, Callie Schmidt, Lou Jensen, Jerry Stepro, and Frank “Steve” Hardsaw. Back row: Bill Harbison, Gene Baxley, Cliff Schmidt, Richard Jordan, and Eldon Sonner.

baseball2Corydon Ball Club 1896-1897

Roscoe Miller (middle row, far right) became a professional baseball player and pitched for the Detroit Tigers, the New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Harrison County Fair

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Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

The first Harrison County Fair took place in 1860, and it has continued annually ever since. Here are some highlights from the event in the early 1940s. See more in HCPL’s Harrison County Agricultural Society collection.

hcfair11941 – Vegetable display in Homecomers Hall

hcfair21942 – Bill Churchill with Grand Champion Jersey Heifer

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1943 – Steve Stepro drives Daisy Mae along the track in front of a grandstand crowd.

Stepro had a long history of horse racing in Harrison County and drove his first race at the fair around 1905.

hcfair41944 – Anna Margaret Winders & Betty Gleitz enjoy the Ferris wheel.

The Ferris wheel, created in 1893, first came to the Harrison County Fair in 1917.

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Happy Father’s Day!

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Dads are the greatest, and Harrison County dads are among the best!

In celebration of all Dads out there, enjoy these photos featuring fathers from Harrison County’s past.

Visit HCPL’s Group Photo Collection.

fathers1Four generations of Griffith men, 1938.

A young George Lee Griffith sits on the lap of his great-grandfather, George D. Griffith, and is surrounded by his father, George M. Griffith, (left) and grandfather, Ora B. Griffith (right).

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Applegate family, ca. 1948.

Dr. Frederic M. Applegate and his wife, Margaret Patten Applegate with their five children. Dr. Applegate was a physician and practiced in Corydon, Indiana from 1929 to 1948.

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Ernstberger family, 1965

Huston Ernstberger and his wife, Mary Ruth Gettelfinger Ernstberger pose for a photograph in 1965 with their eight sons who ranged in age from twelve years to fourteen months. The couple eventually had three more children, all of whom were girls.

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High Water

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Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

Although the flash flood we experienced this week was a rare occurrence for most of us, photos of past floods over the years remind us this was not the first time Indian Creek has left its banks – and likely won’t be the last. These and other flood photos are available in the HCPL Fires and Floods digital collection.

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Intersection of Poplar Street and Market Street (Capitol Avenue), May 1928

The large building on the corner facing Market Street (Capitol Avenue) was, at the time of this photograph, the George B. Wahl Hardware Store. During the late 20th century, it housed Alstott’s Hardware. The church seen midway down Poplar Street was constructed in 1837 as a United Brethren Church and was originally located on Mulberry Street, where it was later used by the Christian Church congregation. When that congregation decided to build a new church at the Mulberry Street location, it moved the older church building to Poplar Street, ca. 1903. The church was razed in 1947.

flood2South Market Street (now Capitol Ave.), June 1939

Flood waters cover what is now Capitol Avenue in June 1939. Men in the photo stand in front of Clark Motor Supply. It was reported that the water was the highest it had ever been in the building. The view of the photograph is to the south, and in the distance can be seen the south bridge over Little Indian Creek.

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Mulberry Street, Corydon, early 1900s.

Two young girls stand together on a swing that extends from a tree branch over a wet and muddy Mulberry Street in Corydon following a flood during the early 1900s.

flood4Harrison County Fairground, 1975

Flood waters inundate the Harrison County Fairground in Corydon in 1975.

 

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Jobs

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Assistant Director

 

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume on Indeed.com.


Primary Responsibilities

  • Oversee library operations in the director’s absence
  • Attend library board meetings and serve as Treasurer
  • Work to promote the library through marketing channels such as news releases, emails, fliers, social media, brochures, bulletins, and other promotional publications and notices. ∙ Supervise, evaluate, and provide guidance to Department Heads (Public Services Manager, Lead Circ Associates, Youth Services Librarian, Patron Services, Technical Services Manager, Genealogy head, IT Staff, and Collection Development) with development, budgeting, and evaluation of departmental programs and services. ∙ Work closely with the staff of the library branches to promote branch-centered and outreach-oriented activities
  • Handle staff scheduling for the Lanesville branch and makerspace.
  • Act as a consultant, mediator, and facilitator for all staff
  • Participate in recruitment, interviewing, hiring, promotion, and termination process for all staff members
  • Assist in developing staff job descriptions and other HR tasks as needed. ∙ Work with the staff training committee to plan and supervise In-Service Training Courses for staff
  • Assist the Director in handling discipline issues for staff and library users. ∙ Assist the Director in the development of library policy and procedures. ∙ Assist the Director in the preparation and management of the budget. ∙ Assist the Director in planning and reviewing financial transactions
  • Assist the Director in the preparation of statistical reports
  • Assist in planning, implementation, and evaluation of long and short-term goals and objectives
  • Collaborate with the Director in evaluating, planning, and recommending facility improvements; participate in developing and presenting capital improvement projects

Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Library and/or Information Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association
  • Currently qualified or able to qualify for at least an Indiana Certification LC3 after the state-allowed temporary certificates
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships with library staff, superiors, subordinates, officials of other agencies, patrons, and the general public
  • Ability to communicate with staff and patrons
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
  • Knowledge of library principles and practices of public library functions
  • Knowledge of public administration as applied to a public library
  • Knowledge of and adherence to all of HCPL policies
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities
  • Expertise and proficiency with computers and related hardware
  • Possess problem-solving skills
  • Dependable, punctual, good attendance record
  • Capable of standing, walking, reaching, and bending for extended periods
  • Ability to lift heavy library materials (approx. 25 lbs.), ability to sit, stoop, and bend.
  • Must have good memory for facts and routines

Additional Responsibilities

  • Assist in the development and training of staff and volunteers
  • Possess the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
  • Act as official library liaison to Friends of the Library
  • Plan, organize, and implement special projects as needed or determined by the Director
  • Ensure safe conditions for staff, public, and building operation. Take appropriate action in building emergencies
  • Perform other duties as required

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development assistance
  • Retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance

Volunteer Positions

Maintenance Volunteer

Job Title: Maintenance Support

Reports to: Head of Grounds and Maintenance

Job Location: Corydon branch

Start Date: As soon as possible

Job Type: One-time job

Hours: 7:00 am-12 noon

JOB DESCRIPTION: Help with spraying cleaner on the building while the maintenance department power washes the building. Also, keep hoses untangled, hold the ladder, and other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: Able to stand for long periods; able to lift 25Ibs; able to be out in the sun.

Click below for an HCPL Volunteer Application Form

HCPL Volunteer Application

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2026 National Volunteer Month

HCPL celebrates library volunteers

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In honor of National Volunteer Month, Harrison County Public Library proudly recognizes and extends its heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated individuals who volunteer their time, skills, and passion in countless ways. Their efforts strengthen the library’s mission to provide free access to information, foster lifelong learning, and create meaningful connections across Harrison County.

HCPL has dependable and energetic volunteers who offer a variety of experiences and expertise. Harrison County Public Library values each of the 20 volunteers who serve the library and help HCPL better serve the community.

The library board of trustees is comprised of volunteers appointed by local elected officials: the county council, the county commissioners, and the school boards. HCPL’s seven board members serve four-year terms and oversee the finance, policy, and planning activities at the library.

Thank you, board members, for your dedication of time, talent, and expertise:
Sharon Mathes  – President
Sharon Rothrock – Vice-president
Barbara Smith – Secretary
Members at Large – Derrick Grigsby, Pam Bennett Martin, Jo Ann Spieth-Saylor, Sharon Rothrock, and Doug Zeidler.

Behind every successful library is an active Friends of the Library group. The Friends of Harrison County Library, Inc., raises funds through book sales for programs, activities, and supplies. In addition to monetary funding, the Friends lend a hand during special events. They also sponsor the prize books given to the youth during the summer reading challenge. The Friends meet every other month, beginning in January, and host a book sale on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at the Book Box. The Book Box is the building in the library’s back parking lot. The Friends also raise money through membership. An individual membership is $5.00.

Thank you, Friends of the Library, for your time and support:
Cyndi Voyles – President
Cindy Daily – Vice-President
Christine Pendleton – Treasurer
Susan Isbell – Secretary
Active Volunteers – Lynne Schipp,  Karen Eves, Natalie Crosier, Cheryl Fisher

Although librarians provide many adult programs, others are led by volunteers who bring quality programming through their expertise in specific areas, such as book discussions, photography, and painting.

Thank you, volunteer programmers, for your dedication and expertise:
Gary Pope – Memories and Memoirs Book Club
Gabriele Williams – Through the Lens – photography

The general public may not realize that a small group of volunteers repairs and cleans library materials, as library users should not attempt to make book repairs at home. If a book’s page or binding becomes loose due to a tear or rip, library volunteers can repair it with glue or a binding machine. Inside each CD case is a paper to note issues or disc problems.

Thank you, cleaning and repair volunteers:
Christine Pendleton – Book repair
Lynne Schipp – Book repair
Walter Ryan – DVD cleaning and repair

A reception recognizing HCPL volunteers will take place on Thursday, April 30th, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Corydon branch.

The Friends of the Harrison County Library will celebrate their 40th anniversary in June!
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There will be a two-hour Open House on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in the Corydon branch.

Stop in, enjoy some old photos and articles. Meet some of the Friends, and if you are not a member, take this opportunity to join us and support your local library!

Light refreshments will be served.
The Friends look forward to seeing you there!

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Author Janna Matthies visits Lanesville Elementary School

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In January 2026, Harrison County Public Library challenged the community to read 10,000 books together to raise funds for Harrison County Community Service.  Eight schools participated in the challenge, with 2,385 students reading over 15,000 books.  Lanesville Elementary was the top school this year, with full student participation and more than 3,000 books submitted.  As a reward, Indiana author Janna Matthies visited the school and presented to pre-K through third grade.  Ms. Matthies, who also teaches music at an Indianapolis elementary school, told students about her journey to becoming an author and gave interactive, musical presentations of her books Here We Come, My Towering Tree, and Baby, Let’s Go to the Orchestra.  The visit was funded by HCPL and a grant from Indiana Humanities’ Indiana Author Awards Speaker Program.

2026 was the sixth annual Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge.  This year’s fundraiser was sponsored by Duke Energy, Lucas Oil, Caesars Southern Indiana, Eckart Supply, and Harrison REMC.

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HCPL celebrates National Library Workers Day, highlights staff

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Today is National Library Workers Day, a day to highlight the critical role library workers play in keeping libraries running. Throughout today, let’s celebrate by recognizing the amazing staff who work at Harrison County Public Library.

Circulation Staff

2026 Corydon Circ Library Workers Day (2) 2026 Lanesville Circ Library Workers Day (1)2026 Palmyra Circ Library Workers Day2026 Elizabeth Circ Library Workers Day (1)

 

Makerspace Staff

2026 Makerspace Library Workers Day

 

Reference Staff

2026 Reference Library Workers Day (1)

 

Youth Services Staff

2026 Youth Services Library Workers Day

 

Frederick Porter Griffin Center Staff

2026 FPGC Library Workers Day

 

Technical Services/Cataloging

2026 Tech Services Library Workers Day (1)

Specialists

2026 Specialists Library Workers Day

 

Administration

2026 Admin Staff Library Workers Day (1)

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HCPL board issues National Library Week proclamation

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Find your joy at HCPL during National Library Week, April 19 through 25, 2026.

First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.

What brings you joy? Whether it’s cozying up with a new story, learning a new skill, gathering with community, or something else, you can find your joy at the Harrison County Public Library.

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