1937-1949
The public library in Seneca first opened its doors in 1937 as a WPA project. It occupied a small room in what was then the Masonic Building, later to become the Community State Bank. A total of 484 books, many of which were “weeds” from the Chicago and Evanston public libraries, circulated to 189 registered borrowers. Miss Lois Zimmerman served the community as its first librarian until 1945.
In 1945, however, the WPA withdrew and the town created the first library board and its first levy to support the library. Miss Louise Peddicord succeeded Miss Zimmerman to work with first board members F.A. Graves, G.M. Hoben, Mary Comegys, S. Sand, Clara Tendall, and W.E. Coulter. Meanwhile, the Community Bank expanded in Seneca’s post-war resurgence.
1950-1986
A building that had housed the Bungalow Beauty Shop became the new library. It was moved across Main Street and refurbished in 1950. From 1950 to 1963, the library’s collection grew from approximately 5,000 items to 14,000. In 1962, the donations from the town, the local bank, and the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company made it possible to open an addition that enlarged the library’s space to about 1,100 square feet.
1987-1999
In 1987, the board was successful in forming the Seneca Public Library District. The town was now planning for the present library: it approved a referendum to annex property; the library began surveys of patrons and reviews of building programs and financing; the board hired architects Frye, Gillan and Molinaro, and in 1989 the town approved another referendum to buy land and finance construction for a 9,450-square-foot library.
Again, the Seneca library was moved, building and all, to what is now the parking lot of the present library so that the library could provide uninterrupted service. With Vissering as general contractor, the new building opened in 1991. The library was automated the same year. Eight years later, the library board was able to retire the bond issue that had financed the building.
2000-Present
The library, open 59 hours a week, provides friendly service to over 1,300 cardholders. It offers a growing collection of more than 50,000 print items, access to online databases, public computers, wireless Internet, and a range of programming. The library is a member of the PrairieCat, Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and OCLC consortiums.