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Visiting the Library

History

We have tried to recreate the long history of WPL using newspaper articles and other documents. If you have any details to add, please let us know. We welcome your historical expertise!

Library Document Station (1)

1925

Everett Lincoln Meservey started Westmont’s first library collection by asking residents to pay 25 cents per month to support a library. He went door to door to collect the money along with any books or magazines people wished to donate. Meservey was also the editor and publisher of the first Westmont paper, The Community Press. Meservey opened the new library in the Community Press Building at 22 W. Burlington where it shared space with the newspaper on the northwest corner of Burlington Avenue and Lincoln Street. Meservey did most of the work along with several students from Hinsdale High School who volunteered their time, namely Helen Sanders and Pearl Dudgeon.

1935

Eventually Mr. Meservey moved to Ohio and the books were stored in a room of a portable school. Mr. Meservey died in Ohio in 1939.

1938

The Westmont American Legion became interested in the books and in August 1938 called a meeting of various local organizations in town with the purpose of forming a Library Board and making the books available to the public again. Attendees included C.E. Miller for Westmont’s Lions Club, Pearl Elsing for the P.T.A., Caroline Townsend for the Westmont American Legion Auxiliary, and F.S. Maier for the German American Club.

Money was pledged at the meeting and soon afterwards the Hoffman Building at 209 N. Cass (Cass and Norfolk) was rented and work began to convert the space into a library. Superintendent of Schools and Lions Club member, Mr. C.E. Miller applied for assistance through the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) which provided funds, books, and also helped to catalog the books.

1939

The library at 209 N. Cass opened on February 22, 1939 with Mrs. Velma Evans, likely a W.P.A. funded librarian, in charge. Money was tight and the library relied on donations of funds and books from the public and from the W.P.A.

1943

In November 1943, the W.P.A. ceased to exist. The board continued to pay the librarian, Velma Evans, until January 1, 1943.

On March 20, 1943 residents of Westmont approved a tax to maintain the library and the first library board of six members was elected, including President and Library Director C.E. Miller, secretary, E. H. Pettey, treasurer, June Goodlow, Caroline Townsend, Pearl Elsin and Caroline Barton. Unfortunately, there was not enough money to pay the bills or to hire a librarian until the 1943 tax money was received in June 1944, so the founding organizations continued their financial support and the women of the board volunteered their time to staff the library two afternoons and two evenings a week.

1944

On August 1, 1944, Grace Townsend was hired as librarian.

1946

The library’s new location at 113 N. Cass Avenue opened on April 18th.

1948

The Community Press Building at 22 W. Burlington was remodeled and once again became home to what was now officially called the “Westmont Public Library.”

1958

The first attempt at a bond issue to fund a permanent building for the library failed.

1959

Library Board President Alex Bruno, a Legionnaire, arranged for Westmont American Legion Post 338 to donate land at 37 E. Richmond Street, next to Memorial Park at Richmond and Linden Streets, to be the site of a new library building.

For the second attempt to pass a bond issue, the Library Board members put on a large get out the vote effort including gathering $1.00 contributions in order to fund a full-page ad in the local paper and to buy posters listing the names of the contributors.

Voters passed the bond issue for the new building which would be the Westmont Public Library’s first non-rented home in its 35 years of existence.

1960

Dedication of new 6,500 square foot, $49,000 library at 37 E. Richmond occurred on October 30th with Grace Townsend as Librarian. The Friends of the Westmont Library organization was launched with Mrs. Myron Allen as president.

1971

The Francis S. Maier Children’s Wing was added to the library.

1975

Moira Buhse was named Library Administrator.

1980

The Board of Directors planned and executed an expansion and remodeling project to utilize the lower level of the existing building.

1989

Due to the increasing need for library services as Westmont expanded, a bond referendum was passed that provided 3.9 million dollars to purchase land and to build a new 28,000 square foot library building (more than three times the size of the current library) to be built at 428 N. Cass. The existing library building at 37 E. Richmond was sold to the Westmont Park District.

1990

Cinco Construction, Inc. of Chicago was awarded a 2.9 million dollar contract on July 19th. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on July 29th and construction on the new building began in September.

1991

State’s Attorney James Ryan announced a grand jury indictment on felony theft charges against Cinco and two of its officers for billing the Library Board $600,000 while failing to pay subcontractors.

The Library Board of Trustees fired Cinco Construction, Inc. as general contractor on December 6, 1991 and Paul H. Schwenderer, Inc. was hired as temporary general contractor.

1992

The Library Board took out a mortgage with LaSalle Bank of Westmont on September 10 for $975,000 in order to complete the construction.

1992

Paul H. Schwendener, Inc. was hired as general contractor in September to finish the construction of the building.

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1993

On January 27th, the new 28,000 square foot building opened to the public and a formal dedication/grand opening was held on April 19. On June 30th, Moira Buhse, the Library Administrator for 18 years, retired. New Library Administrator Charlene Sanders began on October 18th.

1996

The Library Board settled their lawsuit against Mitchell Kobelinski, guarantor of the building bond issued to contractor Cinco Construction, Inc., for $550,000. Claims pending against other defendants were dropped due to their lack of assets.

2001

Christine Kuhn was hired as Library Director.

2006

Westmont residents passed a referendum that provided funds to purchase additional materials for the collection.

2008

The newly remodeled Children’s Reading Garden was unveiled featuring face out shelving for picture books, updated furniture throughout the department and new computers for young children.

2009

A new roof was installed during the summer months due to severe leaks throughout the building.

2011

The exterior entry plaza was remodeled.

2014

Julia Coen was hired as Library Director.

Westmont Public Library