Chester Library: 90 years and still growing
A lot has changed in the decades since local philanthropist Charles Briggs Cole gave the city of Chester the gift of a public library.
Residents will have a chance to celebrate that gift beginning this month, as the Chester Public Library will mark its 90th year of operation with a number of events throughout the year.
The library has grown and expanded its role in the community from a place to borrow books to a cultural and civic center. Services include a wide variety of activities, from book discussions, birth to pre-K story times and teen events to craft workshops, movie nights, featured guest speakers, G. E. D classes and more.
"With rapid improvements in technology, the library has continued to provide a wide range of programs electronically." said administrative librarian Tammy Grah, adding many patrons now borrow books electronically, a feature that continues to grow in popularity.
The library is associated with the Illinois Heartland Library System, but is governed by the city of Chester and has a board of directors comprised of Betty Welge, president; Dr. Stephen Miller, Vice President; Mary Ann Stumpe, Treasurer; Melissa Gross, Secretary; Carolyn Schwent, Richard Pautler, Steve Wallace, Evelyn Schuwerk and Tammy Liefer. A long time booster/support group is the Friends of the Chester Public Library. This organization, with Collette Powley as president, assists with many programs and projects of the library.
Though officially dedicated on April 22, 1028, the library's story began a year earlier when Cole, a well-known businessman and philanthropist, announced at a banquet of the Chester Chamber of Commerce that we would make a gift to the city of a new library, contingent on the city acquiring a lot and agreeing to maintain the property.
Cole, at that time, had secured an option on the James Morrison property on Sparta Street, which later was named State Street, with plans to build the library there. He already had architectural plans drafted for a two-story sandstone building.
The city accepted by offer and construction soon began. The building was completed in January 1928 while Cole and his daughter, Alice B. Cole, were wintering in Biloxi, Mississippi. They returned home in March of that year, but Cole died unexpectedly on March 13, 1928 of a heart attack. The first public use of the Chester Public Library was for Cole's wake, where the body lay in state. At the dedication, Alice Cole handed over the deed to the library to then Chester Mayor E.H. Wegener.
The first librarian was Minnie Adams, who was paid $20 per month for her services. She served as librarian from its opening until 1957. Librarians after her were Mable Nagel, Frances McDonald, Mary Fran Eggemeyer and Grah.
Grah began working part time at the library in 1990 and accepted the current position in January 1997.
In 1980, the library created and dedicated a rare books room, where old and historically significant manuscripts are kept. The oldest book is a Bible from the early 1600s. The library also houses archives from the Randolph County Herald Tribune and Chester High School yearbooks, dating back to 1905 through the present, though not totally continuous. The Mississippi Valley Art Guild provides monthly art displays at the library and library staff provide additional local historical and seasonal displays throughout the year.
A large two-story expansion took place in 1990, which doubled the size of the library and provided needed room for many new programs, including a community meeting room and a new children's library section. In the early 90s, the library became connected to the internet, forever changing and improving services for the patrons.
Special events during the month of April will include a program given by Apiarist Kurtis Gross on the subject of bee keeping and a Civil War program: "Mr. U.S. Grant - A Man & A Patriot". Library Week will be observed April 8-14 and the hit movie, "The Greatest Showman" will be shown free to the public. For the third consecutive year, the library will also be hosting a poetry contest during April.
During the summer, the library will feature weekly children's story hours with an average weekly attendance of 100 to 150 children. Grah credits individuals and organizations in the community who assist both physically and financially with the annual project.
A highlight for the year will be the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, which will be at the library Sept. 7-Oct. 20. The exhibit, titled "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," will be touring Illinois in conjunction with the state's bicentennial. The Chester exhibit will be the first of the exhibits, with others to follow in Winchester, Lake Shelbyville, Marshall and Sycamore.
"This is a great opportunity for Chester and for the library," Grah said. "We are so proud to have been selected to participate."
In addition Grah, many patrons also know and appreciate the services of longtime employee Lisa Wittenborn, a Librarian II at the facility. Wittenborn has many responsibilities at the library, including working with programming for children, youth and senior citizens. Currently there are also four part-time employees.