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Library Hours, phone numbers and address
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Normal Public Library - A Brief History
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Driving Directions to the
Library
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Library Floor Plan
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Library Resources
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Library Services
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Services for Special Needs
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Interlibrary Loan
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How to get a Library Card
- Friends of the Normal Public Library
LIBRARY
HOURS & CONTACTS
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
And yes, the Normal Public Library is open on Sundays all
year round!
Phone: 309-452-1757
Children's Dept.: 309-454-4668
FAX: 309-452-5312
The Library's address is 206 W. College Ave. Normal, IL
61761
NORMAL
PUBLIC LIBRARY - A BRIEF HISTORY
Individuals
who have served as Head Librarian at Normal Public Library
are Margaret Hanna (1935-65); Arlita Austin (1966-68); Frances
Brennan (1969-71); Ruby Hundley (1971-72); and Robert Wegman
(1972-present).
The Normal Public Library began modestly
in 1935 as a Reading Room sponsored by
the Community Council and funded by the Works Project Administration
(WPA).
Miss Margaret Hanna volunteered her services as librarian
for the collection of 300 books. The first location was over
the old Normal State Bank—now Waiting Room Records at
113 W. North Street; the second, Douglas Store—now Homespun
Treasures at
117 W. North Street.
In 1938, citizens voted to support
the library by public taxation. The library moved to a large
room over Hildebrandt’s Drug Store in Payne’s
Community Hall at
118 ½ W. North Street -- where the first Board of Trustees
meeting was held on
April 27, 1938. The six elected members drew straws to determine
the lengths of
their terms. Miss Hanna was hired as the first Head Librarian.
The next two locations for the library
were 207 North Street—now Paintin’ Place; and
in August 1964, the former Eisner Grocery, 205 Broadway Street—now
the parking
lot across from Commerce Bank.
In 1971, citizens approved a bond issue
to finance a new building. The library moved to
its current location at 206 W. College Avenue on May 5, 1973,
with the help of staff, volunteers, and the Illinois National
Guard.
Circulation, materials, and demand
for services continued to grow rapidly. In 1985, a
needs assessment by staff and community concluded that the
library was in desperate
need of additional space. In 1989-1990, the Town of Normal
approved a plan to raise
the property tax level by $1.4 million over a four-year period
for library construction.
Bids for the library addition project went out in November
1991 on a design-build basis. Groundbreaking for the 25,700
sq. ft. addition took place on April 8, 1992, with completion
of the addition and remodeling of the old building projected
for the fall of 1993.
Normal Public Library has grown from
300 donated books to a diverse collection of nearly 200,000
materials. Traditional printed materials and the latest in
computer and CD-ROM technology are available for public use.
The library has changed as the community’s information
needs have changed, but one thing is constant: the desire
to provide the best possible service to our community.
LIBRARY
RESOURCES
BOOKS--the
strength of any public library lies in its book collection.
Normal Public Library's book collection includes: general
fiction, mysteries, westerns, romances, science fiction, non-fiction,
large print, biographies, paperbacks, young adult titles,
children's titles, test study guides (for ACT, SAT, LSAT,
GED, GRE, TOEFL, ASVAB, etc.).
MAGAZINES--NPL
subscribes to over 300 magazines, everything from "Antiques"
to "UTNE Reader", from "Growing Without Schooling"
to "National Enquirer." Most of NPL's magazines
are of general interest; we do not subscribe to scholarly
journals. Back issues of magazines are kept for four years;
all but the current issue are available for checkout.
NEWSPAPERS--NPL
receives 16 newspapers, including major dailies throughout
central Illinois, both Chicago papers, and assorted out-of-state
papers such as "Wall Street Journal" and "New
York Times." Newspapers are kept for four weeks.
AUDIO/VISUAL--NPL
offers a variety of audiovisual materials for checkout, including
one of the largest collections of books-on-tape in the downstate
area (both abridged & unabridged); books-on-cd, books-on-mp3cd,
compact discs, videos, dvd's, and computer software.
COMPUTER--NPL
offers computer software (IBM and Apple) and IBM Compatible
CD-ROMS for checkout to adult cardholders.
REFERENCE--NPL
is constantly expanding our reference resources to serve the
information needs of our patrons. Sources available include:
reference books in all areas; tax forms; college catalogs
on microfiche; local history materials; and access to the
Internet and Online Databases.
LIBRARY
SERVICES
- Children's Department
- Sign on to our E-mail List
- Reference & Information Desk
- Computerized Card Catalog
- Community Room available free of charge to local groups
for meetings.
- Programs for adults, including author visits, reading
clubs, and guest speakers.
- Special Services for homebound
patrons.
- Coin-operated copiers
- Microcomputers for public use, including access to the
Internet
- Bestseller Rental Collection
- Reserve Cards
- Handicapped Accessible
- Quiet Study Rooms
- Reciprocal borrowing for patrons with valid library card
from most Illinois public libraries.
- Notary publics on staff
- Library Newsletter
SERVICES
FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
HOMEBOUND DELIVERY
of library materials is available to patrons living in Normal
who are unable to come to the library due to permanent or
temporary disability or illness.
DEPOSIT COLLECTIONS
are placed in nursing homes and retirement communities upon
request.
TALKING BOOK SERVICE,
a free service for persons unable to read standard print because
of a visual or physical disability.
BI-FOCAL KITS,
multimedia kits used to stimulate discussion; often used in
nursing home settings or with intergenerational groups. Topics
include "Farm Days", "Birthdays", "Remembering
the Depression", "Remembering County Fairs"
and many others.
COMPUTER FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
individuals is available in the upstairs computer lab. Call
452-1757 to set up an appointment, or stop in and talk to
any of the friendly A-V staff.
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE COMPUTER
TERMINALS
TDD -- 309-452-3233
For further information about special services available
at Normal Public Library, contact Mary Lou Lawson, 309-452-1757.
INTERLIBRARY
LOAN
Since Normal Public Library is unable to acquire all of the
printed material available, we, in cooperation with libraries
throughout the world, offer Interlibrary Loan service. Patrons
may fill out request forms for items not owned by NPL. Requests
are searched by computer in the collections of the Resource
Sharing Alliance; materials not found at these sites may be
found through state and nationwide computer searches. If you
cannot find the book you need at NPL, just ask for an Interlibrary
Loan form, and we'll track it down!
HOW
TO GET A LIBRARY CARD
Materials in the Normal Public Library are available to the
public for use in the library. If you wish to check out materials,
you must have a current library card for NPL or from cooperating
public libraries in Illinois.
If you are a resident of the Town of Normal, you will get
your FREE library card at NPL. Proof of address is required,
as is parental consent for anyone under age 14. To show proof
of address, we ask that you bring a picture ID and something
with your name and current address on it -- for example, your
checkbook, a piece of mail addressed to you, a rental agreement,
a driver's license, a car insurance form, etc. Children may
receive a library card when they enter kindergarten or turn
five years old, whichever comes first; in order for a child
to have a library card, at least one parent or guardian must
also have a card.
Patrons with a library card from Bloomington, Hudson, El
Paso, Towanda, Golden Prairie District, or other local public
libraries, may check out materials at Normal Public Library,
and vice versa. However, you must get your library card in
the city/town where you live and to whom you pay your taxes!
This is the sole factor that determines where you get your
library card. For example, if you live in the Unit 5 school
district, you will only get an NPL card if you live in Normal;
otherwise you must get your card in Bloomington, Towanda,
Carlock, Hudson, or wherever you live. It is confusing! But
remember -- you can use your library card at any cooperating
public library in Illinois, but you must get your card in
the city where you live. (One exception to this rule is patrons
with a card from the LeRoy Public Library; because the LeRoy
library does not participate in reciprocal borrowing agreements
with other state libraries, LeRoy cards are good for checkout
ONLY at the LeRoy library. LeRoy patrons are, of course, welcome
to use NPL materials in the library, but they cannot check
out NPL material).
Illinois State University students are eligible for an NPL
card, provided they are living in a dorm or in housing in
the Town of Normal. ISU students must bring a photo ID and
proof of address in order to receive a card for NPL.
FRIENDS
OF THE NORMAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Friends of Normal Public Library are individuals who
share a common belief that a good public library is essential
to the intellectual and cultural growth of the community.
Members of the Friends work together to promote the continued
development and improvement of the Normal Public Library.
Over the years, the Friends have contributed thousands of
dollars to the library to make possible the purchase of books,
equipment, and continuing education for staff that are not
covered in the budget. The Friends have held book sales, underwritten
program costs, served on committees, and helped out at special
library events.
Annual membership fees are $5.00 individual, $10.00 family,
and $100 lifetime. Ask for membership information at the Circulation
Desk or print out a registration form
to mail in, and show your support of Normal Public Library
by becoming a Friend.
"The only way to have a
friend is to be one"
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

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