 Bennett Martin served a term on the Lincoln City Council in the early 1950s and was mayor of Lincoln from 1956 to 1959, the Bennett Martin Public Library honors his public service and donation.In 1967, Lilian Helms Polley financed the addition of the North and East wings of Bennett Martin Library.In 1977, a subsequent addition created two more floors on the library which house the administrative offices and the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors.