Prior to 1972, the residents of the Village of Shorewood and Troy Township were required to purchase a non-resident card from a neighboring library to receive library services.
In 1972, arrangements were made under the Project Plus Books Program for the Burr Oak Library System bookmobile to visit the Village twice per month. Funds to pay for the bookmobile were raised by a committee appointed by the Village of Shorewood’s Park and Recreation Committee.
In February 1975, the committee canvassed residents to see if they would support a library of their own. The survey showed that four out of five residents wanted a library. A demonstration library was opened in Shorewood Plaza in August of that year, pending approval of a referendum planned for April 1976.
Voters approved the 1976 referendum by a 2-1 margin and the Village of Shorewood and Troy Township had their official, tax-supported library at the demonstration location. A few years later, the library moved to a larger storefront in the Shorewood Plaza. The library applied for and was awarded a $250,000 Library Services and Construction Act grant in June of 1984 by the Illinois State Library. It was then moved from the Shorewood Plaza to its current location in August of 1985 and was opened to the public.
In 1992-93, with the assistance of a $75,000 Library Services and Construction Act grant, the Shorewood-Troy Public Library completed the lower level, where the Youth Services department and meeting room are now located. Installation of an elevator and wheelchair accessible restrooms came in response to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Compiled by Patricia Bohler, June 2008
