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The library made additional changes to service in the first decades of the
1900s. It converted to "open shelves," allowing library users to walk into the
book stacks and select their own books. Prior to that time, patrons called for a
book by writing its shelf location number on a slip of paper, which was handed
to the librarian. The term "call number" is still used to refer to a book's
shelf location.
Another change for the library was the addition of a telephone around 1915. This
allowed residents to contact the library from their homes (if they had
telephones). In 1915 Highland Park had around 5,000 residents, but only about
1,000 had telephones.
In no time at all the Carnegie library was too small to handle the growing
collections & services of the library. In 1914, the Board began purchasing
surrounding land with an eye to expanding the building. Their plans were delayed
with the outbreak of WWI and were considered again in 1920 and 1924 but each
time the need had increased even more, and plans for additions never seemed
entirely adequate.
The crowded conditions forced the Board to relocate the children's room to the
basement in order to provide more space for children's books. The former
children's room was converted into a reference room. With a separate children's
area, it was necessary to hire a children's librarian. In September 1925, the
Board hired Mrs. Eva Crozier on a half-time basis at a salary of $60 per month.
By 1927 it was evident to the Board that the Carnegie library was inadequate and
that only an entirely new library would do. The population of Highland Park,
just 4,209 in 1910, had grown to approximately 10,000 by 1927. The number of
books increased from 6,658 in 1910 to 16,773 in 1927.
When the head librarian, Mildred Crew, resigned in November 1926, the Board made
a noteworthy decision---to hire only librarians with college and graduate
library school training. To attract a capable, well-trained person, the Board
decided to offer a starting salary of $2,700 per year. Cora Hendee was the
library's first professional librarian. She arrived in 1927, just in time to
assist the Board in planning for a modern library building. She established the
historical archives, which includes the photographs that accompany this history.
She began a regular column in the local newspaper to feature library events and
new titles. For the first time, under her direction, reference & research
services were defined as an integral function of the library. She lobbied the
Library Board to maintain a steady appropriation for new books, despite the
onset of the Depression. In 1927, the year she arrived, the library had 16,773
books. When she left in 1935, there were 30,221. The library circulated 45,676
items in 1927 and 122,087 in 1935.
In 1928 the City Council proposed a levy increase spread over 7 years to raise
the estimated $150,000 to build the new library.
The Chicago architectural firm of Holmes and Flinn (Morris Grant Holmes and
Raymond W. Flinn) designed the original modified Gothic style structure built of
Wisconsin limestone with Indiana limestone trim. The new library was dedicated
on Sept. 20, 1931.
In 1935, Miss Hendee hired a new children's librarian,
Inger Boye. Mrs. Boye served as children's librarian for 29 years. Her
story hours, summer reading programs, school visits, and personal attention
created a lasting image in the minds of many small children. In 1975, a room in
the children's department was named for Mrs. Boye. Story times remain an important introduction to books and
reading for small children. Each year the youth librarians visit classes in all
the Highland Park elementary schools. They also host class and pre-school
visitors at the library. The Summer Reading Program allows children to maintain
their reading skills during the summer and offers games and prizes for all
participants.
Although the library survived and thrived during the Depression, it was not so
fortunate during the war years. Rationing was imposed due to shortages of
various kinds. The shortage of fuel oil caused the library to close on Mondays
beginning in 1942 and for the entire month of April 1943. The library also faced
staffing shortages, as employees were able to find higher paying work in war
industries.
Following the war, the library still faced a shortage of funds and staff. To aid
the library's fundraising efforts, a Friends of the Library organization was
founded in May 1947. Over the years the Friends group has aided the library in
countless ways with funds to purchase books, records (the Friends started a
phonograph collection in 1948), art prints (started in 1965), equipment, special
programs, and for publicity efforts (the Friends publish the library's
newsletter The Laurels, first issued in 1968).
Joseph Pollock became head librarian in 1958. His first years saw many
innovations. These included an extended loan period from 2 weeks to 3 weeks for
most materials, and the option of placing reserves on materials by telephone
rather than having to appear in person. A curbside book return, known as an
"auto page" was installed. A full-time, professionally trained reference
librarian was hired.
Over the years, the collections of the library continued to grow and space for
children's materials was particularly inadequate. In 1960, the Library Board
decided to build an addition on the west side of the existing library. Bertram
Weber was hired to design what is now known as the Children's Wing in the same
modified Gothic style of the original building. The cost of this addition was
$121,200.
The relative prosperity of the 1950s and 1960s allowed the library sufficient
funds to develop particularly excellent collections. In 1971 the library had
104,346 books and more than 200 magazine subscriptions. The growing collections
and population and the heavy use of the library necessitated yet another
addition. In 1976 a modern adult wing (20,000 sq. ft.) designed by the firm
Wendt, Cedarholm & Tippens was added to the south of the original building.
Jane W. Greenfield was appointed Executive Director in 1987. Building
improvements and computer technology developments were early priorities.
Remodeling to improve access for people with disabilities was completed in 1989
and was followed by renovation plans.
In 1991, a major renovation of the building upgraded heating, ventilation, and
electrical systems, and redesigned space layouts in response to changing use
patterns. In 1998, the lower level public meeting room and auditorium were
remodeled to improve lighting, ventilation, and access. In 2000, the front
entrance of the library was redesigned to improve safety and accessibility.
New collections of videos, compact discs, DVDs, CD-ROM titles, and electronic
and digital resources were added as they became available.
Computer technologies developed especially rapidly during the 1990s.
Computerized information sources began appearing at the library in the
mid-1980s. In 1984 the library replaced its Gaylord book charging machines with
an automated circulation system. The card catalog was automated at the same
time. By 1989, patrons could access the computer catalog through a dial-in
telephone connection from their home computers. In 1996 a Windows version of the
computer catalog was introduced and was available via the Internet. In 2000,
computer catalog software was installed to give patrons access to their library
patron records via Internet connection. The software allows patrons to renew and
reserve titles.
In 1986, the first subscription to an online information database was purchased.
Additional computer information sources and CD-ROM titles were added, and
computer labs were established for children and adults. In 1996, the library
began providing Internet services. A library web site was created with access to
subscription databases provided by the library and with links to World Wide Web
information sources. In 1998, the library created a "gateway" web site to
community information to provide an index and links to community web pages.
In 2002, the Library welcomed its 16th head librarian when Jane Conway joined
the staff as Executive Director. Among her initiatives was restoration of a
historic library sign that had been designed by artist and former Library
Trustee, Rudolf Ingerle in 1940. The sign was returned to its original location
on the southeast corner of St. Johns and Laurel Avenues.
The library inaugurated the 21st Century with the publication of Books that
Matter: A List for the Millennium. A compilation of titles submitted by Highland
Park readers, the book lists a cross section of popular and classic titles for
children and adults. It demonstrates the enduring value of reading, and the
vital role of a public library for the residents of Highland Park.
Source: Frooman, Mary E. THE HISTORY OF THE HIGHLAND PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY (June
1972)
Additional information compiled by Julia A. Johnas.
back to part 1 of the library history
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