Wilmette Public Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wilmette Public Library serves the citizens of Kenilworth and Wilmette, Illinois on Chicago's North Shore. Ellen B. Clark is the library's director. The library is part of the North Suburban Library System, a consortium of public, academic and special libraries in Illinois.
The library was founded in 1901, but traces its origins to private nonprofit lending libraries created as early as 1880. It has occupied several different buildings, including one opened in 1905 which was built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. The current building includes an auditorium which is used for concerts, lectures, travelogues, workshops, plays, seminars and artist receptions.
The present building was constructed in 1951 on the site of the original 1901 Carnegie library. The new structure won an architectural award for design from the American Institute of Architects. It was expanded over the years to meet the needs of library patrons, with an expansion in 1988 essentially doubling the size of the building. The library has been an essential part of life in Wilmette, as shown by the fact that 94% of the residents have a library card, far above the national average, and per capita circulation is a high 23 items per capita.
The library's innovative creation of online book discussion groups received favorable notice from the American Library Association. [1]
