"Tomorrow evening the East Peorians will meet at Mosiman's Hall to jubilate over the installation of their free public library and reading room.  An interesting programme will be rendered, refreshments served and a cordial invitation is extended to all to join in the jubilation."

The success of this venture is unknown, since no further information about the library exists.  The formation of the present public library was accomplished through the efforts of the East Peoria Woman's Club, organized in 1934.  Plans were made to start a library fund and open at least a reading room by the end of 1935.

In June 1935, with Louise Moore in charge of the library committee, a reading room was opened. Volunteer librarians were Hilda Schelm, Sophie Boals, Anna Gagan, Naomi Reichelderfer, Lillian Kastein, Laura Mills, Myrtle Coogan, Eliza Sommerfield, Mrs. K. C. Becherer, Mrs. E. J. Walker, and Mrs. John Fritz. Hours were Wednesday and Friday 
afternoons. A the end of the first month 530 books had been borrowed.

When school opened, the reading room was moved to two rooms over City Hall, then located on the Northwest corner of Main and Washington Streets.

The city council contributed $10 to purchase shelving. Members made a number of trips to the state library in Springfield for collections of books and several East Peorians donated books, among them was the entire collection of the Professor W. N. Brown, the first principal of the new East Peoria Community High School. 

Money was  raised through food sales of donated bakery and canned goods, vegetables
and farm produce. These sales were held at the Humpty Ice Cream Parlor on the corner of Washington and Anna Streets.

When the city hall was moved to the new building on North Main Street in 1936, the library was moved to the two rooms on the upper floor of a township building at 108 North Main Street. The township provided the rooms rent free. And Florence Tjaden reported on other donations at this time, including coal from Parnham Coal Company for the duration of the winter.

Following another move to two rooms over the First National Bank in East Peoria, a special election was held to provide tax support for the library. On July 20, 1937, Fondulac township residents voted a tax of one mill on the dollar, levied on all taxable property in the township.

The first Board of Trustees was composed of Florence Tjaden, President; Rev. I. H. Fennen, Vice President; Maude Harrison, Secretary; Clarence Trapp, Treasurer; Hilda Schelm, and Michael Sary. Madeline Webber was appointed Librarian. The name, East Peoria Public Library was chosen by the trustees since the city boundaries were within the Fondulac Township at that time.

When Helen Culley was appointed Librarian in 1939, more books had been added to the collection, circulation was up, and the rooms were crowded.

Following Martha Hindman’s appointment in 1941, the library site was changed to its permanent location on the corner of Cole and Everett Streets.  The Library Board purchased the German Lutheran school for $5,500 in 1942 from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

During World War II, the library was chosen by the American Library Association as one of 1200 War Information Centers in the US.  Each month a new collection of material devoted to a selected phase of national defense was received.

On August 24, 1954, a bond issue was held to raise funds for the construction of a new library. The referendum passed by a vote of 173-86 and while construction took place, the library was moved to a temporary location on McKinley Street. An open house was held on November 13, 1955, following the completion of the new building. 

The library board at the time of dedication consisted of three original board members: Rev. J. H. Fennen, Florence Tjaden, and Clarence Trapp. Other members were, Eva Briggs, Clayton Boyd, and Naomi Reichelderfer, who served on the board for 32 years.

When the new library opened the book collection numbered about 12,000 volumes.

Helen Culley was again appointed Head Librarian after Martha Hindman’s death in 1957. Mrs. Culley, who later became Helen Fabre King, was responsible for the library’s successful Story Hour program, now in operation for over 38 years.

At the July 25, 1966 board meeting, Florence Tjaden resigned. She was the last original board member and the board honored her with a plaque for her 29 years of “faithful and productive service” as a Library Trustee. Mrs. Tjaden served as President of the board for the entire 29 years. Dorothy Dowell, also a charter member of the East Peoria Woman’s Club, was appointed to fill the vacancy and served on the board until the time of her death in 1975.

To reflect the actual financial support, the name of the library was changed to Fondulac Township Library on June 1, 1962. In 1973, Fondulac Township voters approved conversion of the township library to a district library and the name was changed again to Fondulac District Library.

Arlita Austin was named Head Librarian in 1967 and served until 1974. Among new services she instigated was Dial-a-Story, a three minute taped telephone message which was one of the first six installations in the United States; and Good-time Hour, a monthly program for Older Americans.

In addition to books, magazines, and records, other items were added to the circulating collection during this time: film and slide projectors, pocket calculators, and educational games and toys.

Norma Smith became director of the library in 1974 and served until 1989.  Mrs. Smith was active in the planning of the East Peoria Centennial Celebration in 1984, helping to compile the history of the town for a book written at that time.

A milestone in library service to the community was reached during 1984 when areas within the city limits in Groveland Township were annexed to the library district.

In 1989, the library moved to its present location in the old First National Bank building after passing a successful referendum.

Sheri L. Simmen was named Director in 1989 and served in that position until October of 2000 when Norma Smith was appointed Interim Director.

The library continues its goal to provide East Peorians with the best service possible. As technology becomes more important to its citizens, Fondulac District Library has responded with computers available for use by the public. The library went online in July 1999 and now offers Internet access to all patrons.

Programming for children and adults continues to expand to meet the needs of the community.

--Written by: Erma Keil