Through cooperation with the city and the fiscal responsibility of the Fondulac District Library Board of Trustees, East Peoria residents approved a 7 million dollar bond referendum in April 2009, and the library opened a new 32,000-square-foot building on November 1, 2013. The library partnered with the City of East Peoria on the new East Peoria Downtown plan, now called the Levee District. The new library facility is a vital part of the civic plaza and shares space with the East Peoria Civic Complex and future City Hall. This exciting partnership allows the library to bring the community a new building and expanded services.
Bigger & Better
· Located at 400 Richland Street in East Peoria, the new library building is approximately 32,000 square feet, almost triple the size of the previous facility.
· Patrons enjoy an expanded collection of books, movies, music, magazines, and more.
· The new facility includes active, social spaces, increased seating, and group study rooms, as well as comfortable, quiet reading areas.
· An enhanced children’s area and a separate teen zone provides ample space for age-appropriate collections and special activities.
· Many more public access computers and free Wi-Fi have increased community access to the Internet and library-paid online research resources.
· Features such as self check-out stations and a drive-up window offer more convenient service.
· Environmentally-friendly and cost-saving components include high-quality insulation, glazed windows, and high-efficiency fixtures that dim automatically to take advantage of natural light.
Community Spaces
· Fondulac District Library and the City of East Peoria have teamed up to share community rooms for meetings, special events, and additional library programs.
· The shared spaces include an atrium area with a common entrance and public restrooms.
· An adjacent plaza and green space is be accessible to the public and enhances the beauty and environmental quality of the newly constructed East Peoria downtown. (In 2018 the East Peoria Community Foundation funded the construction of the Reading Garden next to the library.)
Construction & Design
· Project architects were Dewberry and PCM+design.
· Construction management services were provided by CORE Construction.
Get Involved
· Individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in helping Fondulac District Library to remain a valuable community resource and to grow its future may contact the Library Director at (309) 699-3917 or administration@fondulaclibrary.org.
· The Friends of Fondulac District Library support the mission of the library through advocacy, financial support, and volunteerism. Annual dues are only $5. The group also accepts donations of books and other media for its sales benefiting the library. For more information about the group, its activities, or membership, please call Laura Warren at (309) 699-3917.
More Information
For more information about the project, please contact the Library Director.