Schaumburg Township District Library

The Schaumburg Township District Library, located in in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, is the second largest public library in Illinois. [Illinois Public Library Statistics 2005 [http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/IPLAR/FY2005/Section2/ByPopulationGroup/Lists/75,000/TOC.pdf] ] It serves the Schaumburg Township area, covering sections of Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Roselle, and Elk Grove Village. Both Hoffman Estates and Hanover Park have branch libraries located in the cities. Annual circulation of materials totals approximately two million items, while nearly one million people visit the library each year. [Illinois Public Library Statistics 2005 [http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/IPLAR/FY2005/Section2/ByPopulationGroup/Lists/75,000/TOC.pdf] ]

The 166,000 square foot central library provides patrons the use of more than 180 computers and access to more than 600,000 items, including books, DVDs, CDs, computer software, and more. Special features include a glass sculpture by internationally renowned artist Dale Chihuly, as well as many other works by famous artists, a fireplace, an original illustration gallery and a café. The Youth Services Department has a unique Enchanted Forest area displaying well known children's book characters and offering a lovely setting for reading or game playing. In addition to the Enchanted Forest, the saltwater aquarium is a highlight for children and adults.

Local History Digital Archive

In 2001 the library initiated a Local History Digital Archive. The archive is a collection of digitized photographs, videos and documents relating to Schaumburg Township history. To date, over 600 items have been posted on the archive and are viewable through either a keyword search or browsing by subject. Each item also has its own record which, in many cases, includes any history or commentary on the item being viewed. Items date back to the 1840s when Schaumburg Township was first surveyed.

History

In 1960, it was nothing more than a bookmobile, but in 1962 voters approved the formation of a tax-supported Schaumburg Township Public Library. The following year, it settled into its own facility – a house near the corner of Roselle and Schaumburg Roads. Magazines were housed in the bathroom on a board above the tub, adult fiction in a nearby bedroom and children’s books in the living room.

After four years, a bigger, better facility was built on Library Lane. More books, more resources and programs...and more patrons. Through the years, demand continued to grow and the library expanded to meet the needs of a growing population. The Hoffman Estates Branch opened in 1976, followed by the Hanover Park Branch in 1993.

The quiet, farming community of Schaumburg is now home to 134,000 residents and numerous office complexes. Eventually, the library board decided even more space was necessary to better serve the people of Schaumburg Township. In 1998, the central library moved into its current location on Roselle Rd. In 2002, the Hoffman Estates Branch moved into a larger facility, and in 2006, the Hanover Park branch moved out of its store front location and into its own building.

Awards

Commercial Building Award Excellence Merit Award, October 1999 [Commercial Building Award of Excellence Merit Award, October 1999 [http://www.dewberry.com/index.asp?id=667] ]

101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For 2005 [101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For [http://www.101bestandbrightest.com/pages/2005CHwinners.cfm] ]

External References

* [http://www.stdl.org Library Homepage]
* [http://www.stdl.org/localhistory Local History Digital Archive]

Notes