All About PPL
PPL Board of Trustees Members & Meetings
A seven member appointed Library Board of Trustees governs the Library.
Charged with setting policies, the trustees are responsible and accountable to the residents of the taxing district to ensure effective, efficient use of resources.
Current Board of Trustees:
President: Carmen Bross
Vice President: Spencer Mize
Treasurer: Christopher Bechtold
Secretary: Mark Parker
Greg Hockemeyer
Joel Frank
Angela Bauer
To contact and reach the Peabody Public Library Board of Trustees you may email them at boardoftrustees@ppl.lib.in.us
If you would like to speak to the Board of Trustees at a meeting, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- You must live in the service area for the Peabody Public Library (Columbia City, Columbia Township or Thorncreek Township) or have a current PPL non-resident card.
- Complete and submit the Request to Speak to the Library Board form 10 days before the regularly scheduled Board meeting.
- E-mail the completed form to librarian@ppl.lib.in.us or drop it off at the Administration Office at the Peabody Public Library, located at 1160 E SR 205, Columbia City, IN, 46725.
- Make sure to check that your name has been placed on the agenda to speak at the upcoming meeting.
- Don't see your name yet? Please be patient as no more than 3 people will be placed on the agenda to speak at one meeting.
- You will be permitted 3 minutes to address the Board of Trustees.
Budget Notices
Budget notices are now available at BudgetNotices.IN.Gov or by calling (888) 739-9826.
Current PPL Board Meeting Agenda: November 12, 2025 Agenda
Board Meeting Videos
Board meetings are held at the library on the second Wednesday of every month starting at 6 PM. All meetings are open to the public. Click below to view the current agenda and video recording on YouTube. To view older board meetings, check out our PPL Board Meetings playlist.
Board Meeting Minutes
Stay informed on what is happening at board meetings by viewing copies of our board meeting minutes. Minutes are available after being approved at the subsequent meeting.
PPL Policies
All library policy manuals are periodically updated.
You can view or download the following policies by clicking on the links below:
PPL Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Peabody Public Library was established in 1997.
A non-profit group of spirited citizens who value the educational role played by the library in our community. We enjoy working together to make it the best library possible for people of all ages.
Officers
Marsha Ruesch – President
Sandy Slone – Vice President
Sandy Slone – Secretary
Linda Marrs – Treasurer
Our Mission
The mission of the Friends of the Library (FOL) is to support the library as it strives to encourage literacy, lifelong learning, and the love of reading throughout the community. We seek to enhance library resources, increase the community’s access to information and knowledge, and provide for a vibrant cultural gathering place.
How We Accomplish Our Mission
The Friends of the Library are responsible for conducting the Old Settler’s Day annual book sale and monthly book sales to support the Peabody Public Library’s Summer Reading Program and needed items for the library. Funds from these book sales have provided the library with meeting room tables, reading chairs, flagpole, digital camera, gaming hardware, picnic tables, book carts, Evergreen Indiana T-shirts, and book bags.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Friends of the Library or would like to make general comments or suggestions, you may email:
Marsha Ruesch at mhruesch44@gmail.com
Sandy Slone at sandraslone44@gmail.com
Donate
Check out our Book Donation Policy here.
- Just drop them off at the Peabody Public Library by going to the Checkout Desk any time during the year.
- If the library is closed, simply drop the items in the Discover book bins at the end of the parking lot.
Volunteer
Work at one of our books sales.
Become a Member
We encourage all interested people to join in our efforts to help build a strong and diverse library and community.
Benefits
- Early admission to book sales
- Interesting volunteer opportunities at the library
- The great feeling you get from helping the library
- A forum to express your opinion on improving the library
Membership Categories and Yearly Dues
Individual $5.00
Family $10.00
Organization $40.00
Business/Professional $75.00
Benefactor $100.00
Patron $500.00
Simply pick-up a FOL brochure at the main checkout desk in the library and fill out the membership form on the back. You may email the form to mhruesch44@gmail.com or send it to:
Peabody Public Library
Friends of the Library Membership
P.O. Box 406
Columbia City, IN 46725
PPL Mission
Building community. Encouraging exploration. Connecting with the world.
Values and Beliefs
We believe:
- Everyone has the right to library services.
- Everyone has the right to privacy and diversity.
- The library is more than just books, materials and technology.
- The Peabody Public Library will strive for excellence in serving the community with a friendly and inviting environment.
- The Library is the community’s center for life-long education.
- The library must be responsive to the current and future needs and requests of the community.
- We believe in operating as a fiscally responsible organization.
- We believe the library is a vital component to the quality of life in the community.
See our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement here.
Vision Statement
The Peabody Public Library will participate fully in promoting the vitality and growth of a community of readers, learners, doers and dreamers by providing access to ever evolving technology, resources and educational opportunities.
See our current Strategic Plan here.
Service Area
The Peabody Public Library is supported by property taxes from Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township.
Memberships and Affiliations
The Peabody Public Library is a member of Evergreen Indiana , Northern Indiana Computer Consortium for Libraries and Northeast Indiana Libraries Serving Communities consortia. In addition, the Peabody Public Library holds memberships to the Indiana Library Federation, American Library Association, the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, and the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce. The Peabody Public Library endorses and is guided by the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement that recognizes the individual’s right to unencumbered access and free exchange of information and ideas vital to an informed citizenry.
PPL History
It all started back in 1901...
The Peabody Public Library was established in 1901 through the philanthropic contributions of Leigh Smith J. Hunt. He offered to support a public library for the benefit of the people of Whitley County. Known as the People's Free Library of Whitley County, the library opened for business on the second floor of the Raupfer Building located on the corner of West Van Buren and Line Street. During the first year, 29,675 items circulated.
Concerned citizens circulated petitions to keep the library open in 1911 when Mr. Hunt could no longer financially support it. The City Council of Columbia City responded by passing an ordinance to make the Library a tax supported institution.
In 1917, Simon J. Peabody donated land and funds to erect a building on North Main Street. He also bequeathed money to the library and the governing board created an endowment which has enabled the library to purchase capitol improvements. In 1970 the library board built a major addition doubling the size of that library. In 1992, the library became a Class I library and expanded its district to include two surrounding townships.
In 1999, a new 27,500 square foot facility was built on Highway 205. Unfinished areas were used for an expansion in 2010. The 14.25 acres of property also include a wetland area that may be used for educational purposes.
Some previous members of the library board include:
- Rob R. McNagny - local author
- Thomas R. Marshall - Governor of Indiana & Vice President of the United States
- Andrew A. Adams - Judge & member of the Indiana House of Representatives
- James Fleck - Mayor of Columbia City
Community Recognition
- The Peabody Public Library was selected as the Jewel of the Community by the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce in 2014.
- 2015 Indiana State Library Annual Report recognition for the countywide Battle of the Books contest.
- The Peabody Public Library won Whitley County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month in June of 2016.
- 2017 Passages, INC Partnership Award
- 2019 Passages, INC Fleck Advocacy Award
- 2019 Indiana State Library Annual Report recognition for the LSTA Grant funded Wild about Wetlands program.
P.O. Box 406
Columbia City, IN 46725
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