1896: Peebles Magazine Club was organized for the purpose of placing good magazines in the homes of its twelve
members.
1909: Manchester Sunday School Association opened a Reading Room that was supported through donations,
memberships, and Lecture Course fees. The Association established a Library Committee and contacted the State
Library of Ohio for a “Traveling Library.”
1910: Manchester Library Association assumed control of the Reading Room.
1912: Manchester Library moved to the second floor of Farmer’s National Bank Building. The library rented one room
for $5 per month and later moved across the hall into larger quarters.
1918: Manchester Village Council levied a tax for the support of the Manchester Library. The first proceeds were $125.
1927: Manchester Library was reorganized under Ohio law as Manchester School District Public Library. As the new
taxing and appointing authority for the library, the Manchester School Board levied a one-quarter-mill tax that
produced $300 for support of the library.
1931: A new Ohio law provided for support of public libraries through a county intangibles tax.
1931: Peebles Free Public Library was organized under Ohio law with the Peebles Local School Board as the taxing and
appointing authority. The Peebles Magazine Club provided additional financial support.
1932: Manchester Masonic Lodge provided free library space for the Manchester Library.
1945: G. F. Thomas deeded a building and ground on Main Street to the Peebles Magazine Club for use of the Peebles
Free Public Library.
1956: Manchester Public Library moved to a room at the Hotel Hester.
1958: Manchester Public Library joined Peebles Public Library and the State Library of Ohio in providing bookmobile
service to all areas of the county.
1964: The family of Mrs. James A. Fitch deeded property at 157 High Street to the Peebles Magazine Club for library
use.
1967: Peebles Magazine Club constructed a library building (approx. 2,000 sq. ft.) at 157 High Street.
1971: Manchester Public Library moved to the Manchester Municipal Building.
1971: Due to the consolidation of all school districts within Adams County, Manchester Public Library and Peebles
Public Library were consolidated as the Ohio Valley District Free Public Library under the taxing and appointing
authority of Ohio Valley Local School Board.
1986: Library and Local Government Support Fund (LLGSF) replaced the county intangibles tax for the support of
public libraries. LLGSF came from 6.2% of the Ohio Income Tax.
1987: Peebles Magazine Club constructed an addition (approx. 2,000 sq. ft.) to the rear of the library building that
doubled the size of the Peebles Library.
1989: West Union Friends of the Library organized and opened a library at 733 Elm Street.
1990: Manchester Library moved to a new building at 401 Pike Street, its first permanent home which was built by the
Ohio Valley District Free Public Library and donations from the Manchester Woman’s Club.
1990: West Union Library became part of the Ohio Valley District Free Public Library system.
1991: Peebles Magazine Club deeded the Peebles Free Public Library building to the Ohio Valley District Free Public
Library.
1992: North Adams Friends of the Library organized and opened a library in the Seaman Community Center.
1995: The Library and Local Government Support Fund (LLGSF) was reduced to 5.7% of the Ohio Income Tax.
1996: The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) began providing Internet access to the Adams County
libraries.
1997: The library district name was changed from Ohio Valley District Free Public Library to Adams County Public
Libraries.
1997: West Union Library moved to a new building at 212 East Sparks Street built by the Adams County Public
Libraries and donations from the West Union Friends of the Library.
1999: The library catalog and circulation functions were automated with the assistance of the State Library of Ohio.
The library became a member of the SEO/Dynix Consortium.
1999: The library district name was changed to Adams County Public Library.
1999: Adams County Public Library began U. S. Cargo service for interlibrary loan (ILL) shipments, permitting
resource sharing among the local libraries as well as other Ohio libraries.
2000: The Adams County Public Library completed a renovation and addition to the original Peebles Library building
that had been donated by the Peebles Magazine Club in 1991.
2000: North Adams Library became a part of the Adams County Public Library system.
2001: State Library of Ohio ended Southwest Ohio Bookmobile services to Adams County.
2002: State funding decreased significantly, followed by a series of reductions and freezes that lasted through 2008.
2004: State Library of Ohio began Know-it-Now, a 24-7 online service, providing reference service, homework help,
and readers’ advisory.
2007: Library staff initiated a process of restructuring with the primary focus on direct service to library patrons through
public service teams. Other functions such as collection development, technical services, and information
technology were centralized.
2008: The Library and Local Government Support Fund (LLGSF) was renamed the Public Library Fund with revenue
being generated from 2.2% of the Ohio general tax revenue. However, the total revenue did not increase.
2008: Adams County Public Library purchased property for a North Adams Public Library building on Moores Road
adjacent to the North Adams High School.
2008: The Adams County Public Library completed a children’s addition to the Manchester Public Library and local
staff reorganized other services within the existing building.
2009: State funding was again reduced significantly as a result of the national economic recession.
2010: State Library of Ohio approved the formation of Adams County Public Library as a county district library under
the taxing authority of Adams County Board of Commissioners, with four library board members being appointed
by the commissioners and three library board members being appointed by the Judge of the Common Pleas Court.
2010: By 2010 state funding had decreased over a ten-year period by almost 30%, necessitating staff reductions through
attrition. As a result, all libraries in the Adams County system were forced to close one day each week.
