With a gift of $12,000 from Andrew Carnegie, and funds raised by local clubs intent on having a public library in Paris, the original building at 701 High Street was erected in 1904 at a cost of $23,000, including furnishings. In 1967, the library became a tax-supported institution, “freely available to all residents of Paris and Bourbon County.” Shortly after that, a renovation project occurred which enlarged the former basement to become the first floor of the building. Another major renovation took place in 1988, adding a two-story addition and remodeling the entire facility.
The library today has amenities and services that would not
have been dreamt of 10
0
years ago. There are computers available in both the adult and children’s
areas, with free Internet access. Faxing, photocopying, and laser printing
are available for a small fee. There is a video department with lots of
new releases as well as old classics, and there are books on tape (which are great for long car trips). The library offers computer classes
regularly, which are well attended. They also offer an AARP Driving Safety
Class, Story Hour for youngsters, and a great Summer Reading Program for kids
age two and up. Learn-A-Test is offered at the Paris Library, where you can get
on-line and practice for a number of different tests, including SAT, ACT, GED,
tests for realtors, police, firefighters, postal workers, and many more. Mobile
Outreach delivers books to homebound readers, small schools, day cares, and many
others. There is a Community Room at the library, which is available to groups
for a small fee. The room has a kitchenette and restroom facilities, and is
handicapped accessible. Tax preparation assistance is available at the library
during tax season, as are all of the most- requested tax forms.
The Paris - Bourbon County library is most fortunate in its director, Mark Adler. Mark’s educational, literary, and technological background is a great asset to the library, and to the community. Originally from Kentucky, Mark has a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from Indiana University, and a Master’s in Library Science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. Mark has worked as an English teacher in a community college, a technology manager for a library system in Virginia, and he spent several years creating a digital library for the information technology wing at Virginia Tech. He is a personable and community-minded person who enjoys getting to know many library patrons.
Friends of the Library is a group of people who work to preserve, strengthen, and promote awareness of the library through various programs and fundraisers. For more information about the national Friends of the Library organization, log on to www.folusa.org. The local chapter of Friends of the Library holds semi-annual book sales, and supports the library in its many community programs. For more information on the local Friends, call President Bonnie Sousely at 987-5251.
Visit the Library's website at www.bourbonlibrary.org.
For general inquiries, the library’s e-mail address is info@bourbonlibrary.org.
The Paris-Bourbon County Public Library is a Member of the Chamber of Commerce.