History:
In January 1920, the Wood River Woman’s Club appointed a committee to investigate the possibility of levying a library tax in order to from a library for Wood River. After many meetings with local and state officials, the proposition was placed on the ballot. The question of establishing and maintaining a Free Public Library and Reading Room received a large majority vote in the spring election.
In March of 1922, a room in what was the old First State and Savings Bank building at 27 West Ferguson Avenue, was rented for $25 a month. The rent included heat, lights, and janitorial services. The first meeting of the newly elected library board was held on June 14, 1921. Shelving and tables donated by Standard Oil Company were installed and books ordered. Miss Gladys Allison of the Illinois Library Extension Division came to assist in organizing the library. Mrs. William E. Wolf (Mabel) was appointed librarian, with Miss Lucinda Anderson as substitute.
Only July 3, 1922, the Wood River Public Library was formally opened. There were 370 books which belonged to the library, and 75 loaned by the state. Total circulation for the first year was 5,477.
By 1924, the library was moved to a larger room in the Burnett Building at 9 Whitelaw Avenue. On February 11, 1929, the building was destroyed by a fire. The library lost 3000 books. About 300 books were sent to the bindery and 900 books were still in circulation. Using these books as a nucleus, the Library Board proceeded with reconstruction work. A room was rented at 114 Whitelaw Avenue. New shelves, tables, and chairs were installed and in less than five weeks after the fire, the Library was again opened. This location was to be the home of the library until February 22, 1958.
Because the 114 Whitelaw location became too small, the Board decided to submit to the citizens of Wood River a proposal to issue $210,000 in bonds to erect a new building. The issue was voted upon favorably in April, 1956. A central location of 326 East Ferguson was chosen as the site of the existing building. The library provides space for community groups to meet as well as library sponsored activities for both children and adults.
In January of 1999, the Board of Trustees of the Wood River Library campaigned for a tax increase for the library’s maintenance and operations. The citizens of Wood River believed in the library by voting for this referendum on April 13, 1999. This was the first increase the library had had since April of 1956.
