When you walk into the Starbucks on SR-135 on a weekday, you will almost certainly find Center Grove High School students studying. Amidst the whirring blenders and blasting pop music, students attempt to concentrate on their algebra and chemistry. However, just eight minutes away is the Greenwood Public Library, a 52,000 square foot, two-story building nestled in the heart of the town. Despite its central location and plethora of resources, it often remains vacant.
Neglected by the community and underused by students, the building stands tall yet overlooked. While it may not be hidden, the Greenwood Public Library is grossly underutilized by the community that it inhabits.
The library is located in the center of Old Town Greenwood, and its floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the sprawling park outside its doors. Mrs. Curl’s ice cream shop and Jockamo’s Pizza are both within walking distance, providing a delicious spot for a study break. The blueish-gray interior of the library is complete with a children, teen and adult area. This institution checks all the boxes of a typical public library, and upon first impression, one may question what makes it so noteworthy and so useful to students within the community. After all, isn’t it just a library?
As I took a simple stroll through the library, its commitment to the Greenwood community felt palpable. While exploring the library, I was admiring the local artwork for sale lining the hallways when I stumbled upon a CPR training session. GCPL offers a variety of free sessions beyond CPR, all of which can be utilized by students. As I continued, I also took note of the braille wallpaper and sensory spaces located in the vacant children’s section. There are outlets throughout all spaces to cater to the unique needs of community members. The childrens’ area, which is full of toys and games, provides a fun and educational pastime for children (or an entertaining activity to help a struggling high school babysitter). As I walked through, the library’s devotion to the citizens of Greenwood was patent, despite the absence of the citizens themselves.
The unique resources of the library are what differentiates it from the rest. Students can utilize a studio space that includes full access to 3D printers, sewing machines, VHS converter and any art supply you could possibly name. Whether a community member is in need of a dremel, a health monitor or anything in between, the library provides ones to check out and take home. Students can even check out fun activities, including projectors, croquet, bocce ball sets and more. Personally, I find the most useful resources to be the free “experience passes” to places like Indiana State Museum and Indiana Historical Society. The vast collection of resources in an accessible space makes the library an outstanding local resource. And the best part: a student library card is completely free. All of these resources are at the complete disposal of students, yet no students seem to utilize them. However, the empty checkout list reflects the typical vacancy of the studio space, which may be due to the library’s outdated website that understates its assets.
As a student who is constantly hunting for peaceful study spaces, the library provides a countless number of them. Nestled between shelves of books, one can find study nooks complete with chargers and adjustable tables. If searching for more seclusion, the library offers more than 20 study and conference rooms, the capacities of which range anywhere from 2-60. Private study rooms with a table, windows and whiteboard walls line the perimeter of the second story. These floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the park, and I have enjoyed countless sunsets while studying in these rooms. Comfortable and spacious, these rooms provide a tranquil haven for any seeking student. Although the library uses an online reservation system for these rooms, I have never used it in all the times I’ve accessed them; the vacuity of the library has always allowed me to choose a room without any issue when I arrive.
Though the library offers a profuse collection of resources and an abundance of benefits to the community, it is almost always forsaken by students and families alike. With access to a free student card, the amount of students that remain oblivious to the library’s existence is astounding. Despite its location and size, the Greenwood Public Library remains hidden in plain sight.
