News

Indian Trails Library: From modest beginnings to 50 years of service

Posted April 19, 2009 11:00 pm

Madhu Krishnamurthy

This is a section of the quilt made by 24 patrons and staff members for the 50th anniversary of the Indian Trails Public Library. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Fifty years ago, a group of women from the Wheeling Junior Women's Club went door-to-door asking residents to give "a book or a buck."

That small collection of used books became the foundation for the area's first library, then housed in a frame building behind the historic Union Hotel on Milwaukee Avenue.

The Indian Trails Public Library District was established in March 1959 by referendum to serve a 10-square-mile area, including most of Wheeling and Buffalo Grove.

The library has been celebrating its 50th anniversary with activities in 2008 and 2009 and the recent unveiling of a quilt. Festivities culminate with a commemorative tree planting Friday, April 24, and a couple of weekend events.

From its modest beginning, the library's collection and space needs grew, forcing its move into a vacant storefront on Milwaukee Avenue, and later into a vacant church building on Jenkins Court.

The library district purchased the church site and remodeled the building. It served as the library's home starting May 1971, when the district spanned 13.5 square miles and carried a collection of 32,446 items.

"The church building was a lovely building. It made a nice small library," said Sheila Schultz, a former Wheeling mayor who started working part time at the library's circulation desk in 1974.

It wasn't long before even that space became cramped.

"At one time they had a trailer for office space," Schultz said. "We were storing books under the head librarian's desk. It was truly so crowded, but very, very busy and a wonderful place to be."

Schultz said it was at that time the library was computerized.

"We were the first ones to do it," said Shultz, who entered book names into the computer system. "I don't know how many thousands of books we had by then. It was a very exciting time. We went online in 1974."

Schultz said Indian Trails also pioneered a talk show about the library for local public access cable. The library was known for its collection of business and travel books, she said, and was one of the best resources for cook books.

Schultz stayed on in her job for 20 years and in 1981 was made head of the circulation department.

"That's the year we moved into the present library" at 355 S. Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling, she said.

For more on the library's history, visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org/library/history.html.

Chris Gibson, associate director of public communications for Indian Trails Public Library, works on the library's 50th anniversary quilt, recently unveiled to patrons. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Chris Gibson, associate director of public communications for Indian Trails Public Library, matches up pictures for the quilt celebrating the library's 50th anniversary. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

One of the quilt squares depicts the old book van route. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Chris Gibson, associate director of public communications, talks with system administrator Marcin Terlik about the quilt she helped make for the 50th anniversary of the Indian Trails Public Library. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Chris Gibson, associate director of public communications for Indian Trails Public Library, packs up her grandmother's 80-year-old Singer sewing machine after working on the library's 50th anniversary quilt. Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

50 years of library service The Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Her are a few fun facts about the library: Then and now 1962 - Library open 25 hours per week 2009 - Library open 73 hours per week 1965 - 12,725 items in collection 2009 - 257,000 items in collection By the numbers 1 million mark broken last year in items checked out annually 500,000 patrons enter the library yearly 100,000 reference questions answered annually 30,000 people attend more than 1,100 library programs annually 44,000 registered borrowers Five free resources to check out • Auto repair reference center: Be smarter than your mechanic. Use this resource at home or at the library to learn about the parts of your car, recalls, repair procedures, wiring diagrams. Visit indiantrailslibrary.org/resources/kbases.html. • Homework help: Live chat is available every day between 2 and 10 p.m. Select English or Spanish and choose from more than 10 subjects. Click "Homework Help" under the "resources" tab and enter your library barcode number at indiantrailslibrary.org/resources/index.html • LearningExpress/LearnATest: Adults and children choose from learning centers such as elementary school, high school, computer skills, job search and work skills. Gain skills or take practice tests in Spanish and English at indiantrailslibrary.org/resources/kbases.html. • eMedia: Download children or adult videos, eBooks, audiobooks to your home computer, laptop, PDA, MP3 or iPod. Choose between the North Suburban Digital Consortium or NetLibrary, indiantrailslibrary.org/resources/emedia.html. • TumbleReadables: Select a book with your child and then listen while it highlights words as it reads. Shakespeare, classics, juvenile, easy reader, young adult and picture books available. Visit http://kids.itpld.lib.il.us/stufftoread.html Nine things you may not know about Indian Trails library • You can access free Wi-Fi • You can have an item delivered to their home for $1 with Library Express • You can access reference help using e-mail, text messaging, IM from within the library, and also a 24-hour chat service AskAway on the library Web site • If the library doesn't have a book, it can obtain it through Inter Library Loan from any library in the country • You can print material from home online and pick it up at the library • You can get free notary service, but call first. • You can check out a bike lock for the bike rack • You can use a silent study room • You can reserve books or have your name added to request lists by calling the library or using the online catalog to request materials 24 hours a day Anniversary events • 11 a.m. to noon Friday, April 24, commemorative tree planting celebrating Arbor Day and honoring the library's 50th anniversary • 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, Star Wars costume party, as well as a Lego building and trivia contest • 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26, Think Globally, Act Locally - listen to a short inspirational stories and hear from area community organizations seeking volunteers For more information, call (847) 459-4100 or visit <a href="http://www.indiantrailslibrary.org" target="new">indiantrailslibrary.org</a>