Franklin Park Public Library

From its early days onward, Franklin Park was very fortunate that interest existed in establishing a library for our community. Franklin Park Library was originally formed as a project of the Franklin Park Woman’s Club. On April 15, 1899, the first book was donated, which was the beginning of our library.

This library was housed in Wasson’s store, 9602 Franklin Ave. (the Lutz Building). It also contained a post office, telephone exchange in addition to ice cream, cigars and other saleable articles. The Library was located there through September 1916.

In 1925 the Woman’s Club asked the Village of Franklin Park for funds to help support the Library.  Members of the Woman’s Club continued to donate and purchase books until 1932, when the Library was temporarily disbanded. In 1936, through the use of W.P.A. funds (Works Project Administration), the library was redeveloped. After W.P.A. funds has ceased the Woman’s Club resumed operation of the Library.

The Library has had several homes in its long history. After its initial home at 9602 Franklin Ave., it was located in the old Municipal Building, 3113 Atlantic. Later in the 1940s it moved into the old Waterworks Building, 9560 Franklin Ave. It was moved back to the Atlantic Ave. location, because the police needed the Waterworks Building while the new Municipal Building was being built. The Library moved back to 9560 Franklin Ave. upon completion of the new Village Hall.

In April 1941 a Village Ordinance was passed to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room in the Village of Franklin Park. The village president appointed a Board of Directors to be made up of nine members.

April 1962, a referendum was passed giving the Library tax support. A six member board was established.

The Library moved to a double store front, at 9618 Franklin Ave. in November 1964.

In November 1967, the Franklin Park Library joined DuPage Library System. The Library Board saw that towns and traffic patterns were developing in a East-West direction and felt it better to join a library system extending in that direction. Additionally, a smaller library system was felt to be more desirable than a larger library system.

In August 1970, the Library became a “Politically Independent Special Service District” (a library district) with an elected board of trustees, independently elected from the village board and village elections. In addition, the Library would now be able to levy its own taxes.

In August 1979, the Village of Franklin Park designated the Franklin Park Library District to be the official depository for the historical and archival records for the village.

Our new, permanent home at 10311 Grand Ave. was finished and dedicated April 1, 1984. A new children’s library and two meeting rooms were added and were dedicated on January 29, 1989.

We have many folks to thank for the wonderful library we enjoy in Franklin Park. At the start were the unnamed ladies of the Franklin Park Woman’s Club, who tirelessly devoted their time and energy into making the Library a reality for Franklin Park. Gladyce Loebig took over the reins from the Woman’s Club. She served as Librarian from 1941- 1961. Louise Keuck succeeded her, faithfully administering the library from 1962-1984. She brought us into the computer age. Ida Bullen replaced Ms. Keuck and was instrumental in facilitating the North Wing’s construction. She was employed as Executive Director from 1984-1987. Robert Watson served as Executive Director from 1987 – 2003.  Longtime library employee and former Business Manager Marie Saeli served as Executive Director from 2003 – 2023.  Our current director is Vanessa Morrison.  She has worked at the library since 2005, first as a part-time librarian, Public Services department head, Assistant Director, and Director in 2023.

Currently, the Library’s collection exceeds 111,000 volumes of print and audio-visual materials along with digital collections of thousands of ebooks, eaudiobooks, and streaming media titles.  Our Public Services Department provides services, programs, and events for patrons of all ages, in person and online.  Our Local History Room collects and preserves materials from our past.  Our Technical Services Department repairs damaged items, and prepares new library materials for loan.  Our Circulation Services Department will sign you up for a new library card as well as check out and check in your library materials.  As of 2024, the Library celebrates 125 years of serving the Franklin Park community.

Library Timeline

• 1899: Franklin Park’s first Library opened at 9602 Franklin Ave. (sponsored by the Ladies Literary and Social Club—now the Franklin Park Woman’s Club).
• 1925: Members of the Ladies Literary and Social Club asked the Village of Franklin Park to financially support the Library. The Library moved to the Waterworks building (9560 Franklin Ave.) sometime before 1925.
• 1932: The book collection disbanded and the Library closed.
• 1936: W.P.A. reopened the Library at 3113 Atlantic (old Village Hall).
• 1939: W.P.A. funds ran out, but the Franklin Park Woman’s Club stepped in and kept the Library going (Geraldine Loebig, librarian).
• 1941: Gladyce Loebig replaced her daughter as librarian. Village ordinance passed to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room in the Village of Franklin Park. Village also appointed a 9-member Board of Directors for the Library.
• 1956: The Library returned to the Waterworks building, while Village Hall was undergoing renovations.
• 1962: A referendum to allow the Library to become tax supported and an election of six library directors was held. The library board hired Louise F. Keuck as librarian.
• 1964: The Library moved to 9618 Franklin Ave.
• 1967: The Franklin Park Library joined DuPage Library System.
• 1970: The Franklin Park Library became a “Politically Independent Special Service District” (Library District). The Library won the John Cotton Dana Publicity Award for cooperation with Franklin Park Law Enforcement for a project on drug abuse.
• 1972: The Library purchased the first parcel of land (where the new library would later be built).
• 1974: The library service area expanded to include the Marconi sub-division and Crown Road area.
• 1979: The Board of Trustees of the Village of Franklin Park voted to make the Franklin Park Library the Official Repository of Local History Information.
• 1981: The last parcel of land was purchased for the site of the new library.
• 1983: The Library “went online.”
• 1984: New Library was built and dedicated, at 10311 Grand Ave. Ida Bullen was hired as Executive Director.
• 1987: Robert Watson was hired as Executive Director
• 1989: The North Wing was built and dedicated (includes Children’s Room, Small Meeting Room and Community Room). Children’s Room was renamed the Margaret Menet Children’s Room.
• 1991: The new Local History Room was built and dedicated.
• 1998: The Library began providing public Internet access to district residents.  The first book club was held.
• 1999: The Library celebrated its 100th anniversary.
• 2000:  The Library’s first website debuted.
• 2003:  Marie Saeli was hired as Executive Director.
• 2007:  The building’s interior was renovated, including painting, new carpeting, a new reference desk, and the creation of a computer lab area.
• 2009:  With social media taking off, the Library joins in with Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• 2010:  Digital collections of ebooks and audioboooks were offered through eMediaLibrary, and Kindle ereaders were loaned.
• 2011:  Environmentally-friendly LED lighting was installed.  The Library became part of RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System) on account of a merger of Alliance, DuPage, Metropolitan, North Suburban, and Prairie Area library systems.  The Library gets its own app.
• 2012:  The Library saw a facelift with a painting project, an upgraded Circulation desk, and a wifi network upgrade.
• 2013:  The hoopla digital collection is added, adding streaming music and video along with ebooks and eaudiobooks.
• 2015:  Digital collections expand with more ebooks and eaudiobooks through the membership of the eReadIllinois consortium.
• 2016:  The Library became a member of the SWAN Library Consortium.  STEAM Kits are added to the collection.
• 2018:  The children’s area received new furniture thanks to the generosity of the friends and family of Cynthia Helwink.
• 2019:  Early literacy kits are added for children.
• 2020:  The Library deals with changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic including closures, online programs and curbside service.
• 2021:  The Library goes fine free.  The teen area was expanded with new furniture, and a new Information Desk was installed.
• 2022:  Public bathrooms were renovated and a new water fountain was installed.
• 2023:  Over 30 trees are planted on library grounds through the Chicago Trees Initiative in collaboration with the Village of Franklin Park and a Morton Arboretum donation.  The World Languages book collection for children is created.  Vanessa Morrison was hired as Executive Director.
• 2024:  The Library celebrates its 125th anniversary.