Danville Public Library
MISSION
The Danville Public Library, recognizing the diverse needs of the community it serves, shall actively provide access to informational, educational, cultural, and recreational materials and programs in order to promote an informed citizenship, enrich personal lives, and improve the quality of leisure time.
HISTORY
The first library in Danville was probably the Vermilion County Library, described in the Danville Enquirer, on November 4, 1837. It was open to all who would pay $1.50 to subscribe. It had a collection of approximately 118 volumes at the time of the news article. "The library is kept upstairs in the room immediately contiguous to the Printing Office and directly opposite the United States Hotel." (This location has not been located on any existing map of Danville).
The next impetus for a public library as we now know it for the citizens of Danville came in 1864 when James Culbertson of the First Presbyterian Church bequeathed his collection of books to form a nucleus for a public library.
Three other collections were ultimately consolidated to form the Danville Public Library in 1883. After renting library space in three downtown locations over twenty years, the Board of Trustees applied to Andrew Carnegie, a philanthropist, for funds to build a home for the library. Carnegie granted the city $40,000 and construction began in 1903.
On November 7, 1904, the public was welcomed into the new building. The library was so popular that, by 1911, the Library had outgrown the space in the new building. A second request for construction funds from Mr. Carnegie was denied, thus beginning the re-arranging of services and books that was to continue for 80 years.
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