MONROE — These days, genealogical research has been supercharged by DNA and internet databases, but genealogists and history buffs know the real work begins here, in the basement of the library.

In Monroe, that is where they are busy digitizing all the microfilm, back issues, and other hard copy information to make it searchable and preserve it. It is the kind of hands-on expertise that cannot be found on the internet and helps to keep libraries viable, in an age when seemingly every book or morsel of information is available online.

“They also get the expertise of our people when they come to the library,” said Monroe Public Library director Suzann Holland, who added that those experts can also assist an online DNA/family history searcher and help them “triangulate” paper and digital sources to find answers.

Monroe’s library is seeing a resurgence in interest in the wake of a major renovation to the building that was completed in 2024 that made the library more modern, usable and, she says, quiet.

“The library is so much quieter which makes it so much easier to read,” or think, she said, noting that such a seemingly small improvement makes a big difference to patrons and staff.

Under Construction

The library was under construction from Dec. 2023 through June 2024.

The work started on the second floor and the lower level, with creation of new walled-in spaces on the second floor, a new lobby in the basement, and renovated restrooms throughout. Next up was the first floor where work was completed on a new central staircase, checkout desk, and the entrance lobby.  

A massive campaign spearheaded by local leaders raise about $1.7 million to help fund the renovations.

“The changes that were made, everything just runs so much more smoothly,” said Holland, who said that sentiment is shared by staff and patrons of the upgraded facility downtown.

While the goal was not to expand space, changes during the renovation added about 900 square feet of additional, usable space, she said. The building, with its automatic front doors and improved accessibility, have made it more ADA compliant, officials have said.

Comments from longtime resident’s familiar with the library who had moved away and returned to visit, often comment on how much the building and library experience has been enhanced.

Storied history in Monroe

The library has been one of the city’s earliest and most enduring institutions: By the end of the 19th century, several organizations were working to create free reading rooms and libraries in Monroe. By putting all the books, they could find in a building on the square, the Young Men’s Literary Association created a kind of local library, without calling it that at first. 

The Research Center is located on the lower level of the Monroe Public Library. Their main holdings are Green County. Both Rock County and Lafayette County are well represented along with several other counties, states, countries, and ethnic groups. A large collection of newspaper clippings that include births, marriages and obituaries is also available.

The town’s first public library was established by Lida Conde Ludlow in the Universalist Church’s basement. 

The school board set up a lecture and program room at the high school, which eventually expanded to include a library of books for public use, and the Women’s Club was involved in educational programming.

A Library Board was formed by the Monroe City Council in 1903, and it wrote to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to request a portion of the money that Carnegie gave to communities around the nation to build public libraries. Despite Carnegie’s grant offer, the City Council and locals could not agree on the library’s location.

Lida Ludlow persuaded her husband and his two brothers to match the Carnegie donation and create a library named after her father-in-law as part of her ongoing campaign for a public library. Edwin Ludlow donated $12,500 to the school district in 1904 so that a new library could be constructed at 1505 9th Street in the name of the Ludlow family. Ten library directors oversaw the more than 90 years that the Arabut Ludlow Memorial Library served the community after opening in May 1905.

To encourage community support for a new library building, the Friends of the Library was established in 1990. 

Lee and June Geiger bought the former Monroe Clinic facility in September 1993 and kindly gave it to the School District of Monroe for a new public library. The new facility opened on April 8, 1996, after a $1.65 million referendum was approved and $330,000 in community funding was raised. 

It remains one of the few public libraries owned and operated by a school district.

For additional details and research on the library’s history and legacy in Monroe, visit the Times online to review exhaustive archived columns on the subject by Matt Figi.

For those interested in genealogy specifically, the Green County Genealogical Society’s research center is now open following renovations. The Genealogical Society Research Center, located in the lower level of the Monroe Public Library, is typically open every Tuesday and often meets on the first Saturday morning of the month. Other times may be available by appointment. Contact the Society for current information and to learn how to become a member.