Bluffton Library Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Bluffton Public Library will be celebrating its 75th anniversary all month long throughout September. The theme of the celebration is titled “Celebrate the Good Old Days.” The theme is intended to honor the 1930’s, a simpler time and the decade in which the library first opened its doors, officially on May 13, 1935.

Activities have been planned through September and they include a family storytime, classic book discussion, classic film screenings, vintage toy program, “name that tune” and “name that gadget” contests, make-and-take crafts, 1930s trivia and displays and prize drawings. Pamphlets of the scheduled events in September are available in the library listing the day, time and type of event.

The grand finale of the library’s celebration will take place on September 25, coinciding with the Bluffton’s Fall Festival. On the 25th the library will be holding an open house during the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 2p.m. An additional after regular business hours event will be held also, where the library will be transformed into a miniature golf course. This will be an all ages event and pizza will be provided as well.

“One of the most important things to remember about this event is that libraries have always been more than just a collection of books, they serve as a gathering spot for people and a social place that provides entertainment as well,” library director Cindi Chasse said.

Chasse also noted that this celebration would almost be impossible if it was not for the generosity of the local community due to reduced state funding putting the library in a financial struggle.

“The library has received tremendous support from local businesses, vendors and individual people within the community. The library itself has zero budget to pull of this celebration so the contributing members of the community have made it all possible,” Chasse said. 

Chasse estimates over 35 combined local businesses, people and vendors have done their part to help out. Vendors from the surrounding area, including Findlay and Lima, have provided nearly 75 door prizes, which will be given away throughout the month. The prizes range from everything to a GPS to autographed books.

Over 75 years the Bluffton Public Library has seen some big changes. It was originally located in the high school until 1986 and it eventually became its own building across the street not long after that. 2005 marked another milestone for the library as it held a building dedication after receiving renovations during its 70th year of service. But, perhaps the biggest change to the library, over all this time, may be the change in technology.

“Technology has changed how we work as a library,” Chasse said. “Now if you want to read a book you can listen to it on tape or download it to your computer or other devices.”

The Bluffton Public Library had over 12,000 uses on their public computers just within the last year. Chasse said the access to information has exploded due to the advances in technology and that provides the library with a staggering number of available items. Through the borrowing privileges most Ohio libraries share, Chasse estimates that the Bluffton Public Library has access to roughly eight million items altogether.

“Even with all the technology these days, I personally think we will always have books. They just adapt and evolve to remain relevant,” Chasse said.

Trivia Facts:

Operating Budget: 1935 - $2,000   2009 - $368,051

Volumes Held: 1935 – 4,000     2009 – 38,000

Annual Circulation: 1935 – 13,000    2009 – 81,218

The Bluffton Public Library now has over 6,700 registered borrowers and serves a population of roughly 6,600 people.

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