Mission & History

Mission

We strive to enrich our community by inspiring connections, providing access to meaningful resources, and encouraging curiosity in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.

Vision

Engage. Connect. Explore. Grow.

We take pride in the library and the La Grange community. Our purpose is to cultivate a desire to return to the library. The following values guide us:

Engage

We are a vibrant, valuable community resource, and we need to actively and holistically engage with community members and organizations so they know all we offer. Through this engagement, people will thrive, and the library will, too.

Connect

The library is not just a physical space—it's a community resource that connects people to information, recreation, technology, each other, and so much more! We want our physical spaces and interactions (in and out of our building) to cultivate community belonging and support.

Explore

The library helps community members expand their worldview by providing access to ideas and topics that meet their curiosity. We expose people to resources that help them understand current issues and challenges that they or others are facing, so they know they are not alone.

Grow

To become a learning organization, we must create feedback loops within our staff and community. By collecting regular input, we can use that data to make changes and evolve as a community organization.

Strategic Plan 2023 – 2025

Strategic Plan Overview

History

History of La Grange Public Library

In 1896, 100 were collected by the La Grange Women’s Club, and a lending library was born. Due to the philanthropic efforts of the club and generous monetary donations from local individuals and institutions alike, the library gathered nearly 500 volumes over the next seven years. This led to a plan to receive grant funding for a new library.

A 1903 grant from Andrew Carnegie built the first La Grange Public Library building. The Library became the village center of education and entertainment for the next six decades, dramatically increasing its collection and hosting a plenitude of local clubs. The building experienced heavy use, contributing to significant wear and tear over these years. After multiple renovations, the library found the support to construct a new facility on the corner of La Grange Road and Cossitt Avenue in 1968.

The second La Grange Public Library opened in fall of 1968, heralded as the “Jewel of the Village” by local newspapers at the time. Over its lifespan, the library nearly doubled its intended collection capacity in an attempt to meet an increasing demand for materials from the community. It became evident after the turn of the 21st century that a new building would be necessary. The library board approved the construction of the current building in 2003. For two years the La Grange Public Library moved its collection, its staff, and its services to a temporary building on Shawmut Avenue to wait out construction.

In 2007, the current building was erected, providing updated services and modern amenities such as larger and more numerous meeting room spaces, more public computers, and wireless internet access. By 2019, the library’s collection has grown to hold over 100,000 items, including video games, music, and eReaders in addition to books, music, and magazines. The library’s digital resources offer downloadable books, movies, and music, along with online classes and resources. In addition, nearly 800 programs are hosted each year for all ages, attracting community members to events both educational and entertaining. The La Grange Public Library continues to grow and works to meet the needs of the community for years to come.