An artist's rendering of the remodeled library.

1970's

The first officers of the Friends group were W. F. Hardesty, president; John Ripley, vice president; Mrs. Mabel Moses, secretary; and Glenn Swogger, treasurer.

The library celebrates 100 years. November 12, 1870 the Ladies Library Association was founded. The Shawnee County Historical Society, commemorating this event, published a bulletin relating the library’s history.

1972 - His sons present Chester Woodward’s library to the public library. The late philanthropist and collector had one of the finest private libraries in the area. It would become an integral part of the public library’s future special collections. The stained glass windows from the Woodward library were also given.

Ground is broken for the Technical Services/Extension building, the first phase of the library’s five-year building program.

1974 - The final phase of the TPL building program is underway. A two-story addition will be built on the south and extensive remodeling will be done in the rest of the library. Included in the work will be a 200-seat auditorium, a Gallery of Fine Arts and a Topeka Room to be furnished by the Friends of TPL.

1976 - The remodeling and expansion program is completed. An open house was held on Sunday January 4th.

The library’s Community Information Service (CIS) was begun in January. It will provide the community with information about services and organizations that are available in Topeka.

1975 - Talking Books (Dept. of Blind & Physically Handicapped), a multi-county service, was begun in October.

1978 - The Friends of the Library present a Steinway grand piano for use in the auditorium.

1980's

1986 - Topeka Public Library ranked 29th in nation. A study was conducted by the Library Research Center of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign of 8,000 public libraries in the United States. Two hundred representing 40 states were selected for their quality of public service and general administration. TPL was 29th of that 200. In that year the library had 55,00 registered borrowers and circulated 1,000,000 books annually.

1989 - The Library and Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center join forces to purchase the Medical Arts building at 10th and Horne. The library is looking for parking lot expansion.

1990's

1991 - The library joins the computer age. The card catalog will be automated, as well as the circulation system. There will no longer be drawers of catalog cards; all information will be available from a computer terminal.

Bob and Hazel Lingo give a gift of $50,000 to the library for expansion of its children’s section. The Lingo story room is the result of that gift.

1992 - Jeanne and Dr. Cotter Hirschberg donate their African art collection to the library. The Hirschbergs have both served on the library board, and their long-standing relationship with head librarian Jim Marvin helped ensure the African collection would go to the library.

A November ballot will ask whether a countywide library district should be formed to expand the library’s tax base to include county residents. New computer shows non-Topekans use library more than those who pay for it.

The voters of the city and county approve a new Topeka and Shawnee County Library District. The library’s name will change to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

1993 - Friends of the library open a used bookstore. The Booktique is located in the library’s portion of the Medical Arts building at 10th and Horne.

Bookmobile service celebrates 50th anniversary.

Bob and Hazel Lingo present $62,000 to the library for the purchase of a new 36-foot long, state of the art bookmobile. The Bookmobile will carry 4,500 items to 25 stops in the city and county.

1995 - The Library observes its 125th anniversary. Honored guests included Barbara King Wilson, Elizabeth Bowers and Carolyn Stewart, granddaughters of two of the original founders.

Architect firm lined up for future library expansion. A contract with Van Doren Hazard Stallings Inc. was signed. Van Doren has hired Michael Graves, a world-renowned architect from Princeton, to work on the design team.

1996 - A $23 million bond issue to expand and renovate the library was approved by voters on August 8th

Michael Graves, lead designer of the library’s expansion and renovation project, visits Topeka to open a library gallery exhibit of some of his recent works.

The Friends Booktique moves to Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center, as the space currently being used in the Medical Arts building will be razed for new library expansion.

The Library purchases Sumner Elementary School to house books and operations for the next three years while its expansion project is under construction. Sumner is on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka case.

1997 - It is announced that the library will remain open and operational during the expansion project.

The Library purchases Stormont-Vail’s half of the Medical Arts building for the expansion project.

1998 - Ground is broken for a 100,000-square foot addition to the library. Internationally renowned architect Michael Graves has designed the project.

An endowment gift of $150.000 is received from the Sabatini family, in memory of Alice C. Sabatini, by the library. In gratitude for this gift, the art gallery in the new building will be called the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery. The income from the fund will be used to annually stage an art show for children.