History of the Joliet Public Library

The Joliet Public Library had its beginnings in 1876 with 750 volumes in its collection. Donations came from the Historical Society of Will County and the Joliet Literary and Musical Society. The collection contained a careful selection of the best of the literature then available in English. It included 76 volumes of history, 115 fiction titles, 96 volumes of biography, and a representation of the arts, classics, sciences, and religion.

Today, the main body of the collection -- which includes over 300,000 books and 400 magazine subscriptions -- is housed in the historical 1903 Daniel H. Burnham-designed building in the heart of Joliet City Center. In the past, this building not only provided Library facilities for the City, but also, from time-to-time, housed the City's Municipal Offices, the Joliet School Board, and the Prairie Area Library System (formerly Heritage Trail). In 1991, architects skillfully blended old with new to add on a 49,000 square-foot addition that more than doubled the size of the Library that now takes up half a city block.  For more information on the history of the Main Library building, please click here.  

In 1995 a popular materials Outlet was opened in the Louis Joliet Mall to provide a sampling of library materials to residents on the far west side.

In November 2002, the 36,000 square foot Branch Library on Black Road was opened, and the Outlet at Louis Joliet Mall was closed.

A prominent feature on the Main Library's west lawn is a bronze statue of French Explorer Louis Joliet created by S. Asbjornsen. The statue has been central in almost every picture of the Library since 1904 when its design was first approved.

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Main Location: 150 N. Ottawa, Joliet, IL 60432
Branch Location: 3395 Black Road, Joliet, IL 60431
Phone: (815) 740-2660
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-9pm - Saturday 9am-4pm - Sunday 1pm-5pm