Kankakee Public Library

LIBRARY HISTORY

In the Beginning...

For over one hundred years the Kankakee Public Library has been meeting the information needs of the residents of the city of Kankakee. In March 1896, the first Kankakee Public Library opened in the Arcade Building, located at the northwest corner of Schuyler and Merchant Street. By the fall of 1897, a drive was underway to build a new building to house the Library's growing collection of 2,200 books. The building, constructed on the corner of Indiana Avenue and Station Street, opened in January of 1899 and remained the Library's home for nearly 105 years.

The success of the Library has sparked more downtown renovation, including a new bank and a university satellite campus. We are proud that our Library is serving to create a renaissance in the City of Kankakee. In 2008/2009, the Library took over the fourth floor of the Executive Centre to create a 240-seat auditorium, a computer lab, and a media recording and editing space. The Library is now up to 44,000 square feet. It is rare that a library is able to do an expansion only five years after a move. However, with the close partnership between Heritage Development, the City of Kankakee, and the Kankakee Public Library still strong, our city's beloved 110-year-old institution is more vital than ever.

Explore Related Categories