Ties that bind community

BY KAT BRAZ

Tippecanoe County Public Library rededicates Jos A. Holman Branch following 18-month downtown renovation

When the Tippecanoe County Public Library held a community celebration and rededication ceremony in August following its $6 million renovation, the TCPL board also revealed a new name for the system’s downtown branch. As the new sign out front identifying the Jos N. Holman Branch was unveiled, no one was more surprised — and overjoyed than Holman’s wife, Rita.

“I kept that secret for years,” says Holman, whose first name is pronounced Josh. “I didn’t even tell my wife.”

Plans for renovations for the 35-year-old downtown branch have been underway for years. It’s the capstone project of a vision 20 years in the making to expand library services throughout the community.

Just one month after Holman signed on as county librarian in March 2002, the library celebrated the opening of its first branch on the campus of Ivy Tech. It was the first joint public/college library in the state of Indiana. The successful partnership affirmed a need for library branches throughout the county. The Klondike Branch was opened in 2007 in West Lafayette, followed by the Wyandotte Branch on the east side of Lafayette in 2016. Wyandotte replaced the Ivy Tech location, absorbing much of the furniture, equipment and materials, and the Ivy Tech facility was turned over to the college.

Conversations among board members about potentially naming a branch for Holman began in 2019 while they planned for the construction of a new branch on the south side of Lafayette. That branch, opened in July 2020, was ultimately named Wea Prairie in keeping with the location-inspired naming theme. The board determined renaming the primary branch would be the most fitting way to honor Holman’s long tenure of service to TCPL.

“The library is so much more than books,” said Grant Fischer, TCPL board president, during the rededication ceremony. Fischer credited Holman and his staff for providing the community “with the tools and innovations that enhance learning and enjoyment.”

A welcoming environment

The 18-month renovation, primarily funded by a $5.575 million community bond, began in earnest in March 2023, and the library remained open throughout construction.

“It was important to me, and to the entire library staff, that we remain open,” Holman says. “We parceled out the building and completed work in phases.”

Following the renovations, visitors now experience a brighter, more open space. The mauve and forest green palette reminiscent of the 1980s has been replaced with a modern palette of blue, gray, orange and green. A greeter desk is positioned just inside the revamped south side entrance where patrons can quickly pick up and check out items they’ve put on hold. An enhanced South Street façade marks the north entrance. A designated teen area boasts bright colors and comfortable spots to lounge.

LED lighting has been installed throughout the facility, as well as new carpeting and study kiosks. New signage and furniture help add color and comfort to the space. The entire collection is equipped with RFID, technology that uses radio waves to identify objects, which allows patrons to check out materials independently.

“The library is a resource for the entire community,” Holman says. “In addition to our collection of print and digital materials, our staff themselves are a source of information. We have gathering spaces, meeting rooms, restrooms and free parking. There are people who come to the library just to be around other people. We have people who come to use our electricity or our WiFi. The Portal has computers for folks who don’t have their own digital devices. People come in to print bus tickets, to download tax forms or to apply for jobs online. The library serves a lot of purposes beyond its traditional role.”

A commitment to community

Beyond its tangible resources, library activities help nurture community as well. Storytimes and other children’s programming, afterschool teen events, book clubs, workshops and brown bag discussions represent only a handful of events held monthly. The library’s role of serving the community aligns with Holman’s personal ethos.

“I enjoy what I get to do at the library, but I also enjoy being a member of the community,” Holman says. “I’ve always believed in terms of living in a community that you ought to be willing to contribute back to the community. That’s just a personal mantra.”

Holman is treasurer for the Greater Lafayette chapter of Indiana Black Expo, an organization that offers programs and services that provide educational enrichment, health literacy, cultural awareness and economic impact throughout the state. Another way Holman gives back is by storytelling and performing poetry, both at the library and in other settings. Contributing to the library’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program held in January is a favorite for Holman, who earned his undergraduate degree in theater.

Although Holman acknowledges the honor of having a library branch named for him, it’s the representation of his greater impact on the community that matters most.

“I receive a satisfaction, a joy from being involved, from knowing something was accomplished, from knowing that I made a difference.” ★

Did you know?

The Tippecanoe County Public Library’s collection of books began in 1882 through the interest of James J. Perrin, a Lafayette school trustee. During his term of office, Perrin gifted $10,000 for the purchase of books for a public library which was known as the Lafayette Public Library.

The first permanent library facility opened in August 1917 after Albert Wells, a local medicine manufacturer and owner of the Wells Yeager Best drugstore, donated a building at Seventh and North streets for the use of the public library. Wells stipulated the library be called the Albert A. Wells Memorial Library and that a place for children be included. Today, the building continues to serve the community as the Wells Cultural Center, home to The Arts Federation.

Holman’s favorite Black poets

County Librarian Jos Holman has loved poetry, particularly works by Black poets, since he was a kid. “It’s reflective of our history,” Holman says. “At the same time, it’s reflective of intellectual thought and intellectual challenges.” Here are a few of Holman’s favorite Black poets:

» Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

» Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

» Countee Cullen (1903-1946)

» Langston Hughes (1901-1967)

» Amiri Baraka aka LeRoi Jones (1934-2014)

» Raymond Patterson (1929-2001)