Library timeline
From Encyclopedia of Des Plaines
| date | event |
|---|---|
| May 2, 1906 | first board of directors meeting |
| September 15, 1907 | director Sarah A. Weeks begins |
| October 5, 1907 | building #1 opens[1] |
| October 14, 1915 | director Harriet B. Cook begins |
| July 1927 | director Neva Holmes begins |
| April 1, 1930 | director Mabel Eamon begins |
| September 1, 1931 | director Elsie Earle begins |
| July 15, 1933 | library closed through Sept. 18 for financial reasons |
| December 7, 1936 | building #2 opens (678 Lee Street) |
| June 29, 1937 | dedication for building #3 |
| July 30, 1937 | open house at building #3 |
| August 2, 1937 | building #3 opens to the public |
| 1945 | director Harriet B. Cook begins |
| late 1945 | director Alice W. Smith begins |
| April 1954 | Friends of the Library founded |
| October 1955 | first discussion of a new building |
| January 22, 1957 | referendum for expansion (passed) |
| August 1957 | time capsule at 841 Graceland opened |
| September 29, 1957 | 50th anniversary (through October 6) |
| December 15, 1957 | new time capsule closed and cornerstone laid |
| November 2, 1958 | building #4 opens (841 Graceland) |
| July 1, 1961 | director Lewis Klitzke begins |
| November 1967 | LPs added |
| 1967 | large print books added |
| March 1969 | acquired microfilm reader |
| June 19, 1969 | first Bookmobile stop (Devonshire Park) |
| January 3, 1972 | director William J. Wiman begins |
| June 1972 | first discussion of expansion |
| September 15, 1974 | dedication and open house for addition |
| October 9, 1976 | second bookmobile's first stop |
| October 1, 1977 | director Bernard Oppenneer begins |
| October 3, 1977 | 70th anniversary celebrations (through Oct. 8) |
| 1977 | begin circulating jigsaw puzzles |
| 1977 | begin circulating cassettes |
| September 1978 | Sunday hours begin |
| 1979 | begin circulating sculpture |
| 1980 | begin circulating VHS tapes |
| May 1, 1984 | first online checkout in CCS |
| August 1985 | joined OCLC |
| September 7, 1985 | The Great Des Plaines Sesquicentennial Parade (bookworm) |
| January 1986 | first issue of Footnotes published |
| September 28, 1986 | 80th anniversary |
| 1986 | Night Owl Reference Service begins |
| 1986 | begin circulating CDs |
| May 20, 1990 | bookmobile's 30th anniversary celebration |
| May 7, 1992 | card catalog closed and recycled |
| October 3, 1992 | march to West School (referendum event with the bookworm) |
| October 1, 1993 | renewals allowed |
| June 19, 1994 | director Sandra Norlin begins |
| June 2, 1995 | Bookmobile Roundup in the parking lot |
| November 1995 | NorthStarNet launched |
| March 29, 1996 | book sale at the mall (through March 31) |
| August 1996 | new bookmobile |
| September 28, 1996 | book sale at the mall (through September 30) |
| October 1, 1996 | bookmobile #3 |
| May 18, 1997 | The United Federation of Doll Clubs Research Center opens |
| October 5, 1997 | 90th anniversary |
| 1997 | joined Library Cable Network |
| April 15, 1999 | ground broken at 1501 Ellinwood |
| November 1999 | internet filters added |
| January 2000 | audiobooks on CD added |
| June 11, 2000 | ceremonial move to 1501 Ellinwood |
| August 3, 2000 | "One for the Books" fundraiser and preview |
| August 14, 2000 | 1501 Ellinwood opens |
| September 24, 2000 | grand opening of 1501 Ellinwood |
| August 14, 2001 | dppl.org registered |
| August 2001 | Answers Unlimited begins |
| September 30, 2001 | Peace Pole dedicated |
| September 30, 2001 | 1st anniversary at 1501 Ellinwood event |
| December 2001 | first televised board meeting (confirm date) |
| April 13, 2002 | Poet Tree opened |
| April 5, 2003 | Do the Dewey |
| April 17, 2004 | Do the Dewey |
| May 21, 2004 | "Young Lincoln Learning" statue dedicated |
| May 21, 2004 | 50th anniversary celebration for Friends of the Library |
| July 12, 2004 | Kevin Luthardt mural unveiled |
| July 2004 | Fred Nagelbach sculpture installed |
| July 2004 | Wi-fi installed |
| April 7, 2005 | demolition of 841 Graceland begins |
| April 7, 2005 | clock tower dedicated at the Waterford Condominiums |
| April 16, 2005 | Do the Dewey |
| April 22, 2006 | Do the Dewey |
| April 21, 2007 | Do the Dewey |
| July 20, 2007 | Harry Potter after hours event |
| October 7, 2007 | 100th anniversary celebrations |
| March 2008 | begin eliminating VHS collection |
| April 26, 2008 | Do the Dewey |
| August 2008 | RFID tagging beings |
| August 2008 | OSG hired |
| December 2008 | Enabling Park opened (site of Peace Pole?) |
| December 2008 | lobby remodeling begins |
| March 3, 2009 | sorter goes online |
| April 25, 2009 | Do the Dewey |
| April 24, 2010 | Do the Dewey |
| September 1, 2010 | director Holly Richards Sorensen begins |
| January 2011 | Language Center added |
| May 7, 2011 | Do the Dewey |
| December 17, 2011 | last mobile library stop |
| March 26, 2012 | desplainesmemory.org registered |
| April 2012 | Freegal added |
| October 2012 | first Pinterest page |
| May 2013 | begin charging for meeting room use |
| 2015 | Story Room expanded |
| October 14, 2016 | "Fast Forward" renovation complete |
| 2016 | The Commons opens |
| July 5, 2019 | director Jo Bonell begins |
| March 16, 2020 | closes for COVID |
| June 15, 2020 | open for pick up |
| July 20, 2020 | stacks reopened |
| November 17, 2020 | back to carry out only |
| March 21, 2025 | director Laurie Papadourakis begins |
| April 27, 2025 | The Canvas opens |
Notes
- ^ The October 4, 1907 issue of the Daily Herald reported that the library opened on September 27. However, every other reference source says October 5.
