Our mission at the Olathe Public Library is “to connect with customers along their journeys of discovery, serve as an anchor in the community, encourage life-long learning, and inspire personal and collective growth.” The arts play an important role in fulfilling our mission. The library traces its roots to the Ladies Reading Circle, which started a public library in 1889 with a loan of 50 books from the state library. The mayor and the city council appointed a twelve-member library board in 1909. The board approached Andrew Carnegie for assistance in building a library; he replied, “If the city agrees by resolution of council to maintain a free public library at cost of not less than $1,000 a year and provide a suitable site for the building, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to give $10,000.00 to erect a free public library building for Olathe.” Olathe has two libraries, a temporary downtown location and the Indian Creek Library. We are currently planning the renovation of a 4-story, 46,600 square-foot space to replace the temporary downtown library, slated to open in early 2023.
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