Richton Park Public Library District
The Richton Park Library District was conceived when village trustees investigated the need for and interest in library service for the residents of Richton Park, Illinois. The village officials observed strong public demand for a library, and in 1972 they rented a storefront at 22365 Governors Highway.
Since the storefront was a coffee-house volunteers had to engage in extensive cleaning and renovation in order to convert it into a library. Volunteers constructed shelves for the books and furniture was donated to the library. Books were obtained through donations from area residents, the Suburban Library System, and the Illinois State Library. Fundraisers, including bake sales, book sales and paper drives were held to secure additional funding. The library soon opened and was staffed entirely with volunteers. In 1974, village residents approved a referendum to establish the Richton Park Public Library District.
With rapid growth of the library, village residents and staff realized that the storefront facility was inadequate. In 1979 the village agreed to lease the old Village Hall to the Library to facilitate expansion. The new library opened on March 30, 1981 at 4045 Sauk Trail after extensive renovation. The next few years saw tremendous growth in the population of Richton Park and an increased demand for library services. In the fall of 1984 a new addition was built, offering more room for books, services and people.
Use of the library continued to grow throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1995, voters approved funding to double the size of the library. With a larger building, more services were added including new computers with Internet access.