The Library Information section includes information on hours, closings, the board of trustees, the staff, library history, grants, library cards and our checkout and overdue policy.

Library History:

When the search for a Civic Improvement Project was being sought by the Woman’s Club in May, 1973, the club could think of no better idea than a library.  At that time, all the town had was a library in the grade school run two days a week during the summer months by the school teachers.  With the permission of the Robinson Daily News editor, the late Kent Lewis, it was decided to open a small reading center June 1, 1973, in the Daily News office.  When the community was approached for book donations, the donations were so overwhelming that the opening of the reading center was held up until September 1.  Membership cards were sold for $1 for adults and $ .50 for students.

In April, 1977 the library became a reality when the residents of LaMotte Township approved the LaMotte Township Library, which in 1986 became a district library and the name changed to Palestine Public Library District.  In November of 1988 Montgomery, Precinct 2, joined the library district.

When another building was needed to hold the always increasing book collection, the old Hare Grocery on Main Street was leased from Mayor Carroll McDaniel with the rent to go towards the purchase of the building.  The building cost $6,000 and the lease was signed June 1, 1978.  The library remains in the same building and in 1995 was put on the National Historic Register, along with 26 other buildings on Main Street.  In 1990, a new addition was built on which became the elementary/juvenile room.  In 1995, with funds from a Mary Heath grant, the library doubled the adult bookshelf space when new metal bookshelves were installed in the adult section and aisles were widened for handicapped accessibility.  In 1996, the library widened the restroom and installed new fixtures to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.  At this time, through a memorial gift, furniture for a reading room was purchased.  December, 1997, through Mary Heath and Silas & Ruth Claypool grants, the library purchased new children’s bookshelves, doubling the bookshelf space in the children’s room.  A television, VCR, television cart, and other children’s furnishings were also purchased.  In 1998, with funds from an Illinois State Library grant, the library replaced the circulation desk with a comprehensive circulation desk with a 29” high circulation/registration module for handicapped accessibility and blacktopped the back parking lot for patron, staff, and handicapped parking.  In June, 2003, the library finished the project of automating the library’s material.  The project was funded through two Mary Heath Foundation Grants, a Silas & Ruth Claypool Foundation Grant, and a Bill & Melinda Gates Grant.  In December, 2004, the library was awarded $2,070 to fund the project of purchasing a website and software to make the library’s book, video and audio collection accessible on the Internet.