We have two toddlers and love this library! The play area is fun and interactive. I also love how…read morethe books are organized for the little ones. We've been to story time a few times and enjoyed it. It is interactive and they also go over a letter and number each time. I enjoy the smaller and quieter environment compared to our regular library.

The Lebanon Public Library is a fabulous facility housing books and so much more. The main branch…read moreis located in downtown Lebanon caddy corner from the Courthouse. The current facility was built in the 1990's as an addition to the previous Carnegie facility. The new facility is spacious with two floors of books and a third floor of study and meeting rooms. I took my granddaughter to check out the library during her spring break. The colorful children's area is located in the basement area. There is a massive collection of books and, today, there were space-themed books on display. There is a large play area for toddlers with kitchen and climbing structures. A number of board games and puzzles are available for kids to play in an open area. We read several books in a cozy area. There is a classroom available near the area. Librarians were friendly and helpful in the children's area. On the main floor, are adult books, a teen activity center and a heritage room. The teen center attracts after school teen that can work on homework, play games or work on art projects. The heritage center houses reference materials including local school year books, local history, genealogy materials, local newspapers and much more. One of the most interesting features of the Library is the collection of vintage art by local artist. Beautiful paintings and more are located throughout the library. Quiet work areas are scattered throughout the library for study or work. Free WIFI is available. They are an Evergreen member. The facility is wheel chair and stroller friendly. Free street parking is available.

I brought my niece here the other day. It was my first time really spending time in the children's…read morearea and was so impressed with how many stations they had for the kids. They had a special playroom with kids toys, a nature center, computers with kids games, an amazing selection of books, and more. I really love this library. They also have a free seed library which I think is so neat!

Talk about an incredible library! I have had this place bookmarked for quite some time and finally…read moregot to check it out after a farmers market visit. The children's section definitely did not disappoint. The library is walking distance from the heart of downtown Zionsville. Even the garden of the library provides entertainment with musical instruments for play. Once you enter the front door, you will find a massive children's section that includes a fish aquarium, playroom, toy train model set and wonderful book displays. It also appears that they have an extensive events programming calendar throughout the week. If we lived closer, I would definitely visit here often. There's also a nature center room off the back of the children's section that features snakes, turtles and more fish. Overall, you can easily pass an hour or two with your kids exploring the different areas. I can't speak for the adult sections, but I'm sure it's Equally impressive. Highly recommend recommend this library!

The Thorntown Public Library is a remarkable historic resource for this small town. The original…read morebrick library was a Carnegie funded project that opened its doors in 1914. The floor plan is based on one of the Carnegie plans that were prevalent for the later libraries. Much of the original furniture, woodwork and shelving remains in place and is in pristine condition. In 2004, the library expanded, adding a mirror floor plan of the original Carnegie structure connected by an entry hall. Painstaking efforts were made to create a cohesive addition that preserved the character of the original building. Karen, the librarian, spent time with us to describe the building, contents and services provided. The addition improved accessibility of the library, added an elevator, kitchen, classroom and much needed space for the e expanded offering of books, dvds, videos, puzzles, games and more. The library serves three townships. The children's books and services are located on the first floor. A kid friendly restroom is decorated by kids. There are tables for building puzzles and chairs for reading. Upstairs is a genealogy/history center located in the original Carnegie building. A young stuffed eagle collected locally and hawk are housed in the center. A teen reading room located behind the center. Karen told us that local teens completed the artwork on the ceilings. Community engagement is evident throughout the facility. An adult library is located on the south end of the library. There is comfy seating to read. A resident cat, Chance, lives in the library and welcomes patrons. There's plenty of free parking outside the building. This is a super facility with a ton of history and worth a visit or two. They are part of the Evergreen program!

From the owner: Thorntown Public Library offers service to residents in Boone County from Sugar Creek, Jefferson,…read moreand Washington Townships. Items available for checkout include books, videos, audio books, and board games for all ages. We also offer downloadable audio books and eBooks through Overdrive. The library offers a variety of programs for all ages. Check the web site, give us a call, or stop by to learn all that we have to offer!

This branch has a long history and was actually the second branch within the Indy Public Library…read moresystem. The branch started in 1967 as the Westlane branch in the Westlane Shopping Center area at 71st and Michigan Road. In 1974, the system purchased three acres of land from Pike Township in this location adjacent to Pike High School. The original 13,000sf Pike Branch was officially opened in 1986 and expanded to 20,000sf in 1999. Meetings are actually currently being held for another renovation in the near future (which it definitely needs). I had the opportunity to visit the Pike Branch last evening for a meeting. You can definitely tell it's an older branch as it looks just a little more worn and lacks some of the amenities of newer branches. Aisles are a little more narrow and even some of the ADA adaptations are a little antiquated - for example, while they do have accessible parking the actual ramps are located in unusual locations. I got out of my car and had to go around a sidewalk to access the ramp. I'm definitely a fan of Indy's public library system. Having attended Pike (though I graduated prior to this branch opening), I'm a fan of this branch. Geocachers should note there's a geocache located in the parking lot. This branch offers public computers with Microsoft Office, early learning stations, and free wifi. There are meeting rooms available for reservation and I saw at least four study rooms that could be reserved (it looked like the limit was four people in the study rooms). I did use one of the simply decorated study rooms for my meeting with one other person. Pike has a bike rack outside and automatic doors for entry. The branch has an accessible stall in the bathroom and I believe I saw two family bathrooms (though you have to get the key from a librarian. I'd imagine since it's next to a high school they're a bit more careful about that sort of thing, ya know?). They offer self-service check-out, scanning, copying, a color printer, and mobile printing services. They also offer exam proctoring, a walk-up book return, and a seed library from March-October. At this point, Pike Branch pales somewhat in comparison to some of the other branches with no really strong fun areas for kids. They do have an aquarium and at least one mural. I checked out the events and it appears that story events for smaller children dominate the schedule. Librarians were friendly, though perhaps a tad less outgoing than some other branches I've experienced. One was very helpful in terms of getting us into a study room where we could have a conversation. There's a strong multicultural flavor here. This makes sense since Pike is a very diverse township and the library reflects that diversity. Overall, I wouldn't call this one of Indy PL's better branches but it has a lot of history within the system and it'll be fun to see what happens with the new renovations. I look forward to returning in the future.

Why do we continuously choose to forget what a great resource the library is? I started coming to…read morethe PBL for prints and copies and fell in love all over again with libraries. Sure they "house books", but there are so many amenities to enjoy that you don't need to be a bookworm to visit. Although this library is a little older (in comparison to new ones in the area) it is still marvelously upkept. It is quiet and tranquil, lots of available computers, and quiet working spaces. Their hours are great, there's ample parking, job board and tools, and lots of community events. I've seen Cookies with a Cop, Crochet/Knitting classes, and so many more fantastic and *free* collaborations with talented people who devote their time to giving back to the community. The kiddo's section is my favorite as I was so amused to see all they provide for children now; there's two computer stations for kids to do countless interactive activities on, stuffed toys, learning board games, a great big sitting area, and a glorious fish tank. I hope to continue to see this library being a strong pillar for its community and I hope more people venture back into libraries to rediscover how resourceful they are. I'll be getting my own library card, after many years, to officiate the relationship and I have plans to "discover" more libraries in the area but the Pike branch will always be a favorite.

We love our local library! The play room, story times, outdoor area. So many things to do to keep…read morelittle ones busy for a little bit. All the staff we have encountered are friendly and helpful. We love the activies that are put on for toddlers through out the week, especially story time at Hattie's.

The "Whitestown Library" (aka Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library - Whitestown) is small but…read moregreat. It just opened in April 2024, after response from the community for a library in this part of Boone County. There is a designated children's area that is its own room at the back of the library. In the children's department, there are toys to play with, coloring pages set out on the tables to draw on, lots of books and movies for kids, and a few computers to play on. There was also a scavenger hunt that took my kid all over the children's area, looking for clues. The seating is modern and fun (there were some seats that looked like mounds of grass!) The librarians were super helpful and polite. In the main part of the library, there's a cozy nook off to the side with a simulated fireplace and comfy chairs to curl up in. Next to this spot, you can walk outside onto the patio, where there are chairs and tables, and farther beyond these there's a path. There's a makerspace / makerstudio in the library, too, but when I visited, it wasn't open. I think you need to make an appointment to visit, because of all of the tools that are available. Apparently, it has a 3D printer, laser cutter, sewing machines, embroidery machines, a vinyl cutter and lots more. Borrowing privileges at Whitestown Library extend also to the Zionsville Library (aka Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library - Zionsville).

This is a cute rare and used bookstore in downtown Zionsville. We enjoyed looking around and seeing…read morethe memorial to the dog who the store was named after. We couldn't read the tributes because they made us too sad but you could tell their mascot was so very loved! They have books for children as well and lots of vintage books! The staff working were super welcoming and friendly. Stop in if you're in the area.

Adorable book shop with welcoming atmosphere and accommodations that go above and beyond!…read more A wide variety of new books as well as vintage. Great prices and did you know that if you call ahead that they allow photo shoots? Such a great place and we will return soon!

The Cragun House in Lebanon, Indiana is the home of the Boone County Historical Society since being…read moregifted to the Society by the Cragun family in 1988. The home was built in 1893 by Lebanon school superintendent and newspaper publisher Strange Cragun. It has hosted a myriad of famous people during its heyday including former vice-president Charles Fairbanks, Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, and former Indiana Governor Samuel Ralston among others. Tours of the home are available and it's also available to rent. It continues to be decorated with a Victorian charm. The Society notes that the house can accommodate groups of up to 30 people. The home is a 2-1/2 story Queen Anne style with a round corner tower (I love those!) and a beautiful wraparound porch. It's located in a super visible place right on Main Street in Lebanon. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cragun family actually lived in the home from 1893-1987. Strange Cragun at various points served as Principal of schools in Zionsville, Whitestown, and Lebanon. He eventually purchased what was then the Lebanon Patriot, the county's oldest newspaper and a pre-cursor to the current Lebanon Reporter. I haven't been in the home often because, quite frankly, it's simply not wheelchair friendly as one would expect from a home built in 1893. It's not surprising, but it's a beautiful home with a stunning wraparound porch. I remember wheeling into Lebanon on my Tenderness Tour events and being in awe of the home. The exterior of the home underwent significant upgrade in 2015.

I had heard there were several places making sugar cream pie in Zionsville, so when we visited Indy…read moreI made a morning trip out here. I had expected, I don't know, something smaller and less-developed. It is a very up-to-date small town, and upscale. Brick streets, and cool old buildings, but filled with home decor and jewelry shops, cutesy cafes, inns, etc. It's definitely not old-school, it's too trendy, but it's nice. I was there too early to visit the bookstore, sadly, but I had a snack, got some pie, visited the library, and walked around. It would be a great place to live if you worked nearby. Only 10 minutes outside the outerbelt, with plenty to do in town and anything else very close by. We'll be back someday, to relax and wander (and eat, and read.)

Excellent service from the front desk to the amazing staff in admissions. They take you through the…read moreschool, detail oriented interviews to make sure all your questions are answered about the one of 6 career experiences.

The management does not care about the students. All they care about is money. The only department…read morethat you can trust there is the admissions team. I want to see them for everything. They are the only ones that really care about me. And the students.