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MUNCIE PUBLIC LIBRARY

About

About MPL

A pillar of the community for nearly 150 years, Muncie Public Library has a history of providing enriching and educational content in a friendly environment that transcends the physical buildings. To advance our mission and to serve our customers and the community at large, MPL maintains a beneficial relationship with our dedicated Board of Trustees, the Friends of MPL, and community organizations who share our commitment to literacy, learning, and community well-being. These collaborations ensure that our contributions to the community lead to a better story for everyone!

Mission of the Library

The Muncie Public Library will provide accessible and innovative services responding to the reading, informational, educational, and enrichment needs of the community. 

Values

We value our ability to be proactive and responsive to community needs. We value organization effectiveness and efficiency. We value and support innovation and flexibility in planning and operation. We value our relationship with each other and the community and will treat everyone with respect and courtesy. 

Vision of the Library

We envision a future where people get excited by ideas and utilize the resources of the Library to explore, discover, imagine, and create. We seek to provide access to new technology, print resources, and educational opportunities for all ages. We commit ourselves to the community and will strive to provide skilled leadership in addressing challenges facing the community through a variety of strategies and collaborative actions, including public conversations and town hall meeting events.

MPL Plans & Goals

See our Long Range Plan and Strategic Goals that includes community needs and goals, assessments, and strategies for the coming years:

PDF iconLong Range Plan 2020-2025

PDF iconStrategic Goals 2022-2025

Operations Policies

Here you'll find information about how we operate. The Operations Policies include: Circulation Policy, Collection Development, Donations, Photograph/Image, Website Privacy, and many more.
Operations Policies 2024

Green Initiatives

Kennedy Library Solar Carport: The solar carport project was funded, in part, by a Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) Energy Grant. The carport has a power capacity of 15 kilowatts and is an 80 PV solar panel carport. A report generated in September 2016 indicated total energy production for year to date was 18.15Mwh, total savings for the year to date was $2,000, and the Co2 emmissions saved for the year to date was equivalent to 252 trees being planted.

Elimination of Single-Use Plastic Bags: Muncie Public Library (MPL) makes a conscious effort to help keep our planet and our community clean and beautiful. We partnered with Muncie Sanitary District during World Environment Day 2017 to offer free reusable tote bags to the public to encourage the use of reusable bags for library materials and MPL stopped offering single-use plastic bags. Thanks to Muncie Sanitary District and to our wonderful customers who have embraced this change, we will be keeping 23,400 plastic bags out of landfills and rivers each year!

Elimination of single use bags at MPL in 2017

Get A Library Card

  • Get A Library Card At Any MPL Location! MPL has a number of card types for all ages, and getting a card can be based on a number of criteria, such as living in Center Township, owning a business or property in Center Township, being a student, a teacher, a foster child, or other conditions. Click Here To See MPL Card Types.
     
  • Never Had A Card Before? If you haven't had a card before or it's been awhile, apply for a library card here! Then stop in within 14 days of applying to show a photo ID and get a physical card. Register Here For A Library Card
     
  • Need To Renew Your Card? Renew your library card online! An email will be sent after 48 hours to let you know it’s active. Stop in within 14 days of renewing to show a photo ID. Renew Card Here
     
  • Access Your Account!

    Enter in your library card number and PIN (last four digits of your phone number or a four digit number you chose when signing up for your card) or your EZ login to access your account online. 
    View:
    • Pay fines and fees
    • Place, freeze, or cancel holds
    • Request items
    • List of items currently checked out

See more information at www.munciepubliclibrary.org/get-library-card

Library Card Policies

To get a library card you must agree to the Muncie Public Library Borrowing Guidelines and Policies.

About MPL Board of Trustees

The MPL Board of Trustees is comprised of seven members. Each trustee is appointed by one of the following governing entities: the Muncie Community Schools Board, the Delaware County Commissioners, or the Delaware County Council. The MPL Board of Trustees meets on a monthly basis to conduct library business and to help guide MPL in achieving its mission and values. All meetings are free and open to the public and are listed on the MPL online calendar. 

2023-2024 Board of Trustees Members:
Mary Louise Buck
Olon Dotson
Denise King
Traci Lutton
Billie Sheppard
Ren'a Wagner
Jennifer Warrner

Officers: 
President: Mary Louise Buck 
Vice-President: Traci Lutton
Secretary: Denise King
Treasurer: Katherine Mitchell
Director: Alan Kornblau

House & Finance Committee:
Billie Sheppard, Chair
Mary Louise Buck
Olon Dotson
Denise King

Personnel Committee:
Traci Lutton, Chair
Ren'a Wagner
Jennifer Warrner

Meet Our Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Board Members and MPL Director and Assistant DirectorOur current MPL Board of Trustees, pictured from left to right, are: Traci Lutton, Ren’a Wagner, Katherine Mitchell (MPL Assistant Director), Billie Sheppard, Mary Louise Buck, Jennifer Warrner, Olon Dotson, Denise King, and Alan Kornblau (MPL Library Director.)

Akilah, Ren'a, Beth

Olin Dotson swearing in

Katherine Mitchell, Jennifer Warner, Akilah Nosakhere

Other photos.  Top: Former Library Director Akilah Nosakhere (left) with Ren'a Wagner (center) and retired Library Assistant Director Beth Kroehler (right). Middle: Olon Dotson (left) is sworn in while MPL employee Tenisha Harris (right) notarizes the Certificate of Appointment. Bottom: MPL Assistant Director Katherine Mitchell (left) with  Jennifer Warrner (center) are assisted by former Library Director Akilah Nosakhere (right) as the Certificate of Appointment is signed.

Community Reports

See our yearly reports that include a wide range of information about programs, services, and leadership of Muncie Public Library:

PDF icon Report to the Community 2022

PDF icon Report to the Community 2021

PDF icon Report to the Community 2020

PDF icon Report to the Community 2019

PDF icon Report to the Community 2018

PDF icon Report to the Community 2017

PDF icon Report to the Community 2016

PDF icon Report to the Community 2015

Friends of MPL

Join the Friends Today!
Membership dues and revenue from book sales make many Library programs and projects possible throughout the year, such as the children's Summer Reading Program, author visits, and more! Join the Friends now and consider helping with the Friends Book Sales. 

Questions? Contact Katherine Mitchell, MPL Library Assistant Director and Liaison to the Friends. Phone (765)  747-8202 or email kmitchell@munpl.org.


The Friends Building is located at 1110 W. Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302.

2024 Friends of Muncie Public Library Board Members:
President: Cinda Priddy
Vice President: Virginia Finchum
Secretary: Deb Johnson
Treasurer: Kristy Eiler

For updates on the Friends Book Sales, visit: https://www.munciepubliclibrary.org/friends-muncie-public-library

Become A Member

Want to become a member? 
Download the membership form here  and drop it off at any Library location or mail it to the address on the form. As a member of the Friends, you'll be invited to Friends-only events and have the first pick at the Friends book sale!

Friends Membership Dues:
$5 - Student
$15 - Individual
$25 - Family
$100 - Sustaining 
$500 - Business/Industry
$1000 or more - Friend for Life

E-Newsletter

Did you miss an issue of MPL's e-newsletter, Library Connections? View them below! Not a subscriber already? Click Here!

2022 2023 2024
January-February February-March February-March
March-April April-May
June-July June Mud & Fun
August-September June Report to the Community 2022
October-November August-September
December-January 2023 November
December-January 2024

Careers at MPL

Apply Today!

If you are interested in a career at Muncie Public Library, CLICK HERE to see our open positions. Please fill out an application for each position you are interested in. 

If you have any questions regarding the application, the status of a job application, position information, etc., please contact MPL Human Resources by emailing MPLHR@munpl.org or by calling (765) 747-8228.

 

Accommodations

Please contact MPL Human Resources as soon as possible if you require accommodations during the pre-employment process. The Library will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to apply, and if hired, perform the essential job functions of their job unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the Library. 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Muncie Public Library is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity. It is the policy of the MPL to provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in accordance with federal, state and local laws. Applicants and employees will not be denied employment opportunities based on their own, their family members’ or their friends’ and associates’ race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity.

 

Genetic Information Discrimination 

The Library will not discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Genetic information includes information about an individual’s genetic tests and the genetic tests of an individual’s family members, as well as information about any disease, disorder, or condition of an individual’s family members (i.e. an individual’s family medical history).

 

Criminal Background Check 

The applicant for a position must authorize a background check electronically during the application process.

Operations Policies

Here you'll find information about how we operate. The Operations Policies include: Circulation Policy, Collection Development, Donations, Photograph/Image, Website Privacy, and many more.
Operations Policies 2024