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Library Administration

Our Mission

The mission of the Homewood Public Library District is to provide not only the best library services, material, staff and cost-efficient facility but to aggressively market and promote our extensive reference collection, our adult and children's collections and provide a diverse, educational, cultural, and recreational resource through a variety of media to our community's changing age and demographic patterns, limited only by available funding and other resources supplied by residents and community organizations.

Our Vision

The Library aspires to enrich and enhance the lives of our patrons and community.

Vision Directives



• To provide opportunities for cultural, intellectual and personal growth
  

• To provide a stimulating, pleasing and welcoming environment
  

• To provide access to information, literature and the arts through diverse formats
  

• To provide friendly, professional service
  

• To provide assistance to patrons in their search for knowledge
  

• To provide cultural, educational and recreational programs which inspire and entertain
  

• To attract develop and retain a friendly, competent library staff that provides outstanding patron service
  

• To provide space for our patrons and community to meet, greet, discuss and debate
  

• To support life long learning and discovery
  

• To foster and nourish the pleasure of reading
  

• To actively participate in the life of our community
  

• To continuously evolve to better serve our patrons and community
  

The Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees

Barbara Macikas-Blumstein, President
Jill Hamrin Postma, Vice President
George Bouchie, Secretary
Anne Colton, Treasurer
Murray Barr
Mark Myers
Chris Flor
Cindy Rauch, Administrative Librarian

The Homewood Public Library Board meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the library. Meetings are open to the public.

Board of Trustees Bylaws, Meeting Agendas and Minutes are available on the Board of Trustees page.

The East Hazel Crest Library Board of Trustees

Maureen Forte, President
Marianne L. Miezio, Vice President
Zoe Ewan, Secretary
Linda Daniels, Treasurer
Jacqueline Fimbianti
Toni Warren
Cindy Rauch, Administrative Librarian

The East Hazel Crest Library Board meets the first Monday of even-numbered months at 7:00 p.m. at the East Hazel Crest Village Hall, 1904 W. 174th Street. Meetings are open to the public.

Library History

The Homewood Library began in 1920 in Mr. Gold's real estate office on Ridge Road, where member of the Homewood Woman's Club met to discuss and exchange books. During cold weather they gathered around a small black stove, which burned coal or wood. In November of 1924, the Woman's Club announced the opening of the library to the public. Members of the Club continued to staff the library, which was open Saturday afternoon and each night except Sunday. In 1925, the Illinois Central Railroad decided that its small wooden train station was too old and offered it free to anyone who wanted it. Because the Woman's Club had outgrown the real estate office, they asked for and received the train station. The women raised over $1500 to have the station moved to 17857 Harwood Avenue. After the station was moved, they had electricity and heating installed, and painted and hung cheerful curtains. The community was canvassed for book donations, and others were borrowed from the State Library in Springfield. By 1927, the maintenance of the library had become too great for the women. On April 19, the Homewood Public Library was established as a tax supported institution. Trustees were elected and a librarian was hired. The flourished in its new location, but by 1958, was totally inadequate to support the needs of a growing community. In 1960, a special election seeking approval to build a new library was successful. The new library, at 17900 Dixie Highway, opened on January 13, 1962.

The present-day Homewood Public Library, located at 17917 Dixie Highway, is home to over 110,000 books and 12,000 CD's and DVD's. Each day new titles are added. The purchases all of the bestsellers and adds popular DVD's as they're released. The library's music collection features a wide variety of musical styles and many emerging artists. Library resources are used to access general information, medical research, career information and educational needs. Library materials are also available covering topics such as cooking, dieting, travel and childrearing. In addition to having a top-notch collection, the library is also staffed by highly-qualified librarians who are able to assist patrons in finding the information they seek.