About Us

The nucleus of the Washington County Public Library was actually planted in September of 1955 when Miss Margaret Willis. Three counties shared “a green truck” with one driver, Mrs. Gertrude Smith, taking reading material to the public in rural areas. In April 1962, the “green truck” was exchanged for a larger bookmobile; however, the needs of the people could not be satisfactorily supported. In September 1963, a sample library was set up in two very small rooms at the old L&N Depot building.

Washington County, as of July 2, 1964, became an established Public Library District. The Library was moved to larger quarters in the Burns building on West Main Street, where it opened its doors on October 13, 1964.

Early in the year of 1965, the Library Board secured an option on a lot of East Main Street between Carey & Son’s Funeral Home and the Telephone Company office. On April 14, the ground was broken for a “one story Colonial type building with a basement room under the rear portion.” The total cost of this building, equipment, and lot was approximately $119,000.

In 2012, Washington County Public Library purchased a parcel of land located between Fairgrounds Lane and Haydon Alley on US 150-West Main Street. The Library was awarded a Public Library Facilities Construction Grant from the State in 2015. On September 28, 2015 ground was broken at 333 West Main Street in Springfield for the new 10,360 square foot library. An official ribbon cutting ceremony was held on November 15, 2017…50 years of celebrating a library facility in Washington County.

Taxing District

The Washington County Public Library is a taxing district as defined by KRS 65.180 (Kentucky General Assembly, KRS Chapter 65, 2019). More specifically, the Library is a Special Purpose Governmental Entity (or SPGE), Non-Enterprise with taxing authority. According to KRS 173.720, Subsection 1, “Districts organized pursuant to the provisions of this section prior to July 13, 1984, shall be governed by the provisions of KRS 173.710 to 173.800” (Kentucky General Assembly, KRS Chapter 173, 2019). Subsection 2 of KRS 173.720 lays out the Library’s ability to collect special ad valorem taxes for the Library’s operation. The 1990 General Assembly amended KRS 132.024 permitting a taxing district to “levy a tax rate applicable to personal property which will produce the same percentage increase in revenue from personal property as the percentage increase in revenue from real property” (Kentucky General Assembly, KRS Chapter 132, §1, 2019).

References

KRS Chapter 65 of Kentucky Revised Statutes, Kentucky General Assembly, (2019),

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=23359

KRS Chapter 132 of Kentucky Revised Statutes, Kentucky General Assembly, (2019), https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=41767

KRS Chapter 173 of Kentucky Revised Statutes, Kentucky General Assembly, (2019), https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=4971

Welcome to the Washington County Public Library

Welcome to the Washington County Public Library

2023 Maryland to Kentucky & Beyond Reunion Bardstown, KY

About Us

Taxing District

Contact Us

Washington County Public Library

Hours

Welcome to the Washington County Public Library

Welcome to the Washington County Public Library

2023 Maryland to Kentucky & Beyond Reunion Bardstown, KY

About Us

Taxing District

Contact Us

Washington County Public Library

Hours

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