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The Future
Continued from page 49
Noack said library branches
have come and gone through the
years, depending on need, since
the Peoria Public Library was
founded in 1880. The first librar-
ian was Erastus Willcox, who
wrote the Illinois Library Law
that later became the model for
federal library laws.
“We used to have branches
in grocery stores and schools.
People didn’t have cars back in
those days so we had to be where
the people were, where they
could get to on foot. As the cir-
cumstances changed, we adapt-
ed. We still are adapting and will
continue to, so we can be where
our patrons need us and we can
provide what they need from us:
the resources we can share with
them,” Noack said.
“We are continually keeping on
top of what the community needs
in a lot of aspects. For example,
we have nicely equipped meeting
rooms that groups can use. The
experience of checking out books
is so different now because it is
electronic. People can reserve a
book or renew a rental over their
cell phone, which is nice if they
are going to make the due date
and want to avoid a fine,” she
said.
The fine structure hasn’t changes
in a while, with fines still ranging
from 10 cents to one dollar a day,
depending on the item checked
out.
“People don’t like to pay fines.
We know that. We just levy them
and collect them to ensure we get
our materials back. We are trying
to make it all super easy for our
patrons,” Noack said.
Numerous computers are available
for public use in the new Peoria
Public Library North Branch, which
opened in May 2011. Computer
use has grown substantially at all
Peoria branches through the last
few decades.
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