Notices

2026 National Volunteer Month

HCPL celebrates library volunteers

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!
FoHCPL logo
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!

HCPL celebrates library volunteers Read More »

Author Janna Matthies visits Lanesville Elementary School

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.

Author Janna Matthies visits Lanesville Elementary School Read More »

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HCPL celebrates National Library Workers Day, highlights staff

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)

HCPL celebrates National Library Workers Day, highlights staff Read More »

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HCPL board issues National Library Week proclamation

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.

HCPL board issues National Library Week proclamation Read More »

2026 Parks Superpass

Get your 2026 Harrison County Parks Super Pass

The annual park pass program is sponsored by the Township Trustees in Harrison County. Each year, the Trustees pay for one $39.00 Super Pass for each household in Harrison County. This year, the Parks Department has attempted to simplify the program to make it easier for residents to pick up a pass. Each eligible household was sent a voucher on their tax bill, which they can redeem for their Super Pass. Take your completed voucher to one of the distribution locations listed below.

Get your 2026 Harrison County Parks Super Pass Read More »

Indiana early voting dates 2026

Voter registration and early voting

Update or Confirm Your Voter Registration

Visit IN.gov’s Voting page to update or confirm your voter registration.

All voter registrations must be submitted no later than 29 days before the election in which you plan to vote. Visit weall.vote/countusindiana to update or confirm your registration.

Updating Voter Registration

There are a variety of reasons individuals may need to update their voter registration, but the most common are:

  • Name change, or
  • Address change.

You can update your registration by visiting weall.vote/countusindiana.

Confirming Voter Registration

It is always a good idea to check your registration in the months leading up to an election. If you’ve registered before or can’t remember, visit www.IndianaVoters.com and click “Confirm My Voter Registration.”

For more information, read Indiana voter registration deadline for May primary approaching by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, from the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Voter registration and early voting Read More »

Harrison County “Rosies”

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

The classic icon of “Rosie the Riveter” has come to symbolize the power and capabilities of women. The symbol originated during World War II as millions of women entered the paid workforce in order to address the labor shortage created by men entering the military. The women primarily filled factory jobs that had previously been male-dominated positions.

Harrison County had its share of “Rosies,” as twenty local women joined the workforce at the Keller Manufacturing Plant in Corydon. Due to a shortage of available men, the company employed women in a few positions, and once they proved satisfactory, more women were employed. Their work included operations on stock for furniture, for walk-in refrigerators, and for truck bodies. The factory shift was from 7 am to 5 pm. The Keller Company acknowledged that in a week’s time, the work turned out by the twenty women compared favorably with the work done by twenty men on similar machines.

Below, Blanche Knight, Anna Shireman, and Ruby Windell demonstrate their capabilities in 1943.

Blanche Knight operates a variety saw, Anna Shireman uses a drill, and Ruby Windell prepares products for shipment at the Keller Manufacturing Company in Corydon, Indiana, in 1943. For these and similar images, visit our “People at Work” collection: https://cdm17251.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17251coll23

Harrison County “Rosies” Read More »

Women’s History Month: The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

In March, we will celebrate Women’s History Month by taking a look at the lives and contributions of women throughout Harrison County’s history. This week we feature The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, which was established in 1878 and was one of the earliest such organizations in the state. The club emerged through the efforts of Anna VanZandt Applegate, who wanted to keep herself intellectually challenged and knowledgeable in addition to fulfilling her roles as wife and mother. She gathered likeminded women in the community to form the club, which was at times called the “Spare Minutes Club.”

The club studied a wide variety of classical literature as well as contemporary works. The women took their work seriously and expected each member to come to meetings not only having read the literature under current study, but also to be well prepared to discuss at length the themes, plot, and characters of the work. They also set aside a portion of their time to discuss current events. Topics ranged from national and world politics and events to arts and culture and scientific discoveries. for example, among the many topics discussed in 1898-1899 were the sinking of the Maine, U. S. involvement in the Philippines, Rookwood pottery, invention of “the talked of flying machine,” a Vanderbilt wedding, and Tesla’s plan to harness the power of Niagara Falls for electricity.

Here are a few images of members of The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon over the years. These images and others as well as meeting minutes, club program yearbooks, and a memory scrapbook are available online in HCPL’s Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon collection,  https://cdm17251.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17251coll12

The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, ca. 1897. The women are identified as follows: front row, l-r: Kittie Brewster, Blanche Ridley, and Charlotte Luckett; 2nd row: Anna Applegate (club founder), and Mrs. A. Riely; 3rd row: Mrs. Trueblood, Lizzie Brewster, Clara Slemmons, Mrs. E. V. Allen, and Mrs. Loweth.
Members of The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, 1947. Seated, l-r: Lillian Mitchell, Zelpha Simler, Nina Harris, Eva Kepner, and Cordelia Clunie. Standing, l-r: Elsie Everett Jones, Leona Keller, Lida Self, Nell Jordan, Etta Dropsey, Mary Adams and Minni Skaggs.
The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon,  1965. At this 1965 meeting of the Women's Literary Club, Emma Dome Miller (far right) posed in the 1858 wedding dress of her grandmother, Martha Kepley Dome, and the lace cap of her great-grandmother, Sarah Hurst Kepley. Club members enjoying her presentation are, seated left to right: Lucy Hottel, Elizabeth Becker, Nola Markel, and Ruth Auxier. Standing are: Lenore LaHue, Hazel Reasor, Rebecca Ramsey, Blanche Davidson, Catherine Roberts, Leona Keller, and Elaine Altemueller.

Women’s History Month: The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon Read More »

Thank you, Kathy Crimans!

Kathy Crimans with certificateThe Harrison County Public Library Board of Trustees honored outgoing board President Kathy Crimans with a reception on Thursday, January 29, at Harrison County Arts. Kathy served on the Library Board for eight years as an appointee of the Harrison County Council. For five of those years, she served as board president, and for her first three years on the board, she served as vice president.

“Kathy was a calm and effective leader,” said Library Director Alisa Burch. “Through all her years of leadership, it was obvious that she always had the best interests of the community and library employees in mind. She has a great sense of humor and is a tireless library advocate. Her library education and years of experience as an elementary school librarian were invaluable in understanding library priorities.”

“We thank her for her service, “ Burch added. “She will be missed.”

During the reception, Kathy was presented with a plaque that read: “Certificate of Appreciation presented to Kathy Crimans. The Harrison County Public Library Board of Trustees and staff wish to express our sincere gratitude for your 8 years of dedicated service to the Harrison County Public Library. We wish you good health, happiness and continued success.” She was also given a thrown glass bowl from Zimmerman Art Glass. Kathy Crimans with glass bowl

Thank you, Kathy Crimans! Read More »

Historic marker at the Corydon branch of HCPL replaced

On Wednesday, January 7th, Steven Schifcar, head of grounds & maintenance, Trevor Smith, systems administrator, and Town of Corydon employees placed a new historic marker on the existing base in front of the Corydon branch.

The old marker had deteriorated.

former historic marker Old Capital Bank and Trust

The updated marker includes the building’s history on one side and the library’s history on the other.

new historic marker photo 1 new historic marker photo 2

Historic marker at the Corydon branch of HCPL replaced Read More »

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