Three days before Cleo Rogers died on Jan. 14, 1964, local leaders voted unanimously to name a planned, new library in her honor — a building that would be finished five years later by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei.
Now, half a century after the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library building opened honoring the longtime librarian, leaders will begin a nearly year-long, golden celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday inviting residents to share their memories about the library. The memories may be submitted via taped video messages at the library, or through submitted video messages via mobile devices any time over the next few months.
The current, 58,000-square-foot structure at 536 Fifth St. replaced a far smaller 1903 facility — without air-conditioning — at Fifth and Lafayette streets in October 1969. The official dedication unfolded two years later, according to library archives.
“Cleo Rogers was a pretty big figure,” said Jason Hatton, Bartholomew County Public Library director.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Rogers served as head librarian of the local Carnegie Library from 1936 until her death.
“But, to most people, she also was kind of hidden,” Hatton said.
Retired English teacher Shirley Lyster, who worked at the library through high school and college while Rogers was the director, is considering recording a memory. But Lyster mentioned that Rogers hardly would want any of the celebratory spotlight were she alive today.
“I think she’d probably be embarrassed about it all,” Lyster said, adding that Rogers is more than deserving of the attention as a catalyst for Columbus’ modern library.
Saturday’s event is just the beginning of elements of a celebration that will include cloth Cleo dolls — made by a national artist — available in October at a gathering to dedicate a plaque recognizing Rogers’ long-term impact. That impact ranges from being the one to broaden the library’s collection to include such items as music and movies and being the director who added the bookmobile.
Mineral Springs resident Alan Tompkins, Rogers’ cousin who knew her only distantly, said he appreciates the honor being extended to his relative. His wife, Marcie Tompkins, worked at the library for a few years about a decade ago.
“While I was there, I always felt a kinship with her,” Marcie Tompkins said.
Beyond Saturday, future programs will be dedicated to the building’s architecture, its history, the library’s future and, more, according to organizers.
“One thing that we’re also looking to do is to examine how the building should change (for usage) in the future,” Hatton said.
He added that the last major change came more than 30 years ago when the reference wing was added.
Tricia Gilson is the archivist at the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives inside the library. On July 27, at the annual sculptor Henry Moore Birthday Party on the library plaza, she will launch an exhibit in the gallery about the building’s 50th anniversary. That display in some way will incorporate the recorded memories from this weekend.
“We know that we (at the library) have had a great impact on the community,” Gilson said. “But we don’t always exactly know what those stories are.”
She figures that the memories of many will stretch far beyond the book shelves.
“People often have thought of libraries as a storehouse of books,” Gilson said. “But the way that librarians think of libraries is more in terms of a community center of information.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Down memory lane” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Leaders of the Bartholomew County Public Library are encouraging people to share their memories of the current Cleo Rogers Memorial Library building or related stories for video recording
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: The library at 536 Fifth St. in downtown Columbus
Information: 812-379-1255 or cleoturns50.org
[sc:pullout-text-end]
