Jacksonville Public Library History
Early History
Subscription libraries and reading rooms were maintained by various private Jacksonville organizations in the mid 1800's. Of these, it was the Jacksonville Library Association, incorporated in 1871, that was the predecessor to the public library which serves Jacksonville today. In 1874 the Association raised enough funds to open a free reading room in donated quarters in the Chambers Block on West State Street. The free reading room had subsequent homes in the Ayers block (1875), the Y.M.C.A. Building (1881), and the Degan Building (1897).
In 1889 the Jacksonville City Council amended the city tax levy to include support of the free library and reading room. Charles W. Alexander served as the first librarian of the city-supported Jacksonville Public Library.
After being contacted in 1901 by Jacksonville lawyer Lawrence O. Vaught, Andrew Carnegie pledged $40,000 for the erection of a public library building in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Public Library officially opened in its permanent home, the Carnegie building at 201 W. College Avenue, on February 23, 1903.
Our First Century
The first century of public library history in Jacksonville was marked by the growth of the library collection and the expansion of library services. In the early 1900's branches of the Jacksonville Public Library were operated in a local grocery store, the J. Capps & Sons Woolen Mill, and Passavant Memorial Hospital. Travelling collections were also developed by the librarian and delivered to area schools.
By donating its holdings in 1965, the Morgan County Historical Society helped establish a local history collection at the library. In 1967 Jacksonville joined with other public, academic and school libraries in the area to facilitate resource sharing and improve services, by becoming a member of the Great River Library System (reorganized as the Alliance Library System in 1994).
An Extension Services Department was created in 1975 and inaugurated the delivery of library materials to homebound individuals and residents of local nursing homes. This Department would also oversee the large print book collection, established in the same year, and local participation in the Library of Congress Talking Book Program.
The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library incorporated in 1982 to raise funds for the improvement of the library and its services, as well as to promote the library and its use. The Friends continue to support and promote the library through annual book sales, contests, and other activities.
Our Second Century
The second century of library service in Jacksonville is off to a strong start. In 1994 the Jacksonville City Council passed a $1.1 million bond issue for the construction of an addition to the library and remodeling of the Carnegie library building. More than $600,000 in additional funds were raised through donations by private citizens, and the project was awarded $500,000 in Library Services and Construction Act Grants. The expanded library was rededicated on February 25, 1996.
The library's catalog and circulation system have been automated. Free public Internet access has been available at the library since June of 1997. By increasing space for the growth of the collection and modernizing equipment for the implementation of new technologies, the library is preparing for its next century of service to the people of Jacksonville.
Officers:
President: Kevin Eckhoff
Vice President: Craig Albers
Secretary: Mary Fergurson
Members:
Judy Fay
Elizabeth Kennedy
Robert Underbrink
Forrest Keaton
Beth Anderson
Grace Findley
Board Meetings
The Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees
meets on the second Monday of each month.
The meetings begin at 4:30 pm and are held
in the Conference Room on the first level
of the library.
Director: Sharon Zuiderveld
Staff:
Adult Services Librarian:
Chris Ashmore
Youth Services:
Christine Lemke
Technical Services:
Vacant
Circulation Services:
Kim Irvin
Outreach Services:
Diane Hollendonner
Clerical Assistants:
Amber Ashmore
Board of Directors and Staff
Library Departments and Services
Adult Services
The Adult Services Department is located on the 1st and 2nd levels of the library. This is where the largest part of the library's collection is housed. Fiction books are divided into "mini" collections (i.e. westerns, mystery, etc.) and arranged alphabetically by author. Nonfiction books, videos, and items in the reference collection are ordered using the Dewey Decimal Classification. Audio items are arranged using the ANSCAR classification. Materials can be identified using the online catalog. Our staff is always available to assist you as well. Special programs for adults are scheduled throughout the year.
Youth Services
Materials for both children and young adults are found in the Youth Services Department, located on the lower level. In addition to books, magazines, audios and videos, the Youth Services Department has items such as toys, games and puppets. Throughout the year, programs and activites are scheduled for all ages. These include the summer reading program and winter story hours. Ask in the Youth Servcies Department about upcoming events.
Outreach Department
For patrons who are physically unable to come to the library, the Outreach Librarian will select and deliver books, videos, audios, etc. Included under her supervision is the Talking Book Program funded by the Federal Government. This program provides books and magazines on audio tape, as well as the necessary equipment, to the blind and physically handicapped. This program delivers the items via the local postal service.
Library Collection
· Books:
We have a collection of over 70,000 volumes including romance, mystery, westerns, science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction.
· Cassettes and Compact Discs:
Our music collection includes a wide variety of tastes from Mozart to modern jazz. There are also audio books which include both fiction and non-fiction titles.
· Video & DVD Materials:
You may choose from our large seclection of videos for all ages including travel, how-to guides, musicals, history, classics, recent Hollywood titles and more. The video collection contains materials in VHS and DVD formats.
· Magazines and Newspapers:
The Library subscribes to 7 daily newspapers and over 100 popular magazines that cover current events, hobbies, fashion, business, celebrites, health and more. Current issues are available for in-house use only.
· Special Collections Room: (in house use only)
This collection contains local history material on Jacksonville and Morgan County, including microfilm of local newspapers. These materials are not available for checkout, but are housed in our Special Collections Room where our staff may assist you.
· Reference Collection:(in house use only)
Located on the second level in the original building, the Reference Collection includes Atlases, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Indices, the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature, and much more.
Other Services
|
|
