Mission & Vision
Our Community Vision
The New Lenox Public Library District enhances the quality of life in our community by fostering lifelong discovery, education, and opportunity.
Our Mission
We provide high-quality resources and experiences that enrich the lives of our community members.
Our Strategic Plan Goals 2022-2025
- Build awareness of the library’s value.
- Lead technology literacy for the community.
- Increase accessibility of library resources to all community members.
- Strengthen community partnerships.
History of the Library
The New Lenox Public Library began as a volunteer project run by members of the New Lenox Woman’s Club. Its first home was a small room in Haven School and housed 385 books.
A referendum was passed and the tax-supported New Lenox Township Library was created.
The Library had four other locations before it moved into its own building on Cedar Road in 1975. An addition was completed in 1986, increasing the library’s size to 11,500 square feet.
The library remained a part of the township government until 1987 when it became New Lenox Public Library District, an independent unit of local government.
Our current building in the New Lenox Commons was constructed and opened on December 10, 2001 to support the expanding population. It is approximately 58,000 square feet and has seating for almost 200 people.
On March 17, 2020, the library passed an operating rate increase referendum with 57% of the votes. The operating rate increase was equal to the decrease in the construction bond levy rate, which was paid in full in December 2019.
The library houses more than 115,000 books, 120 magazines, 8,000 DVDs, and 3,000 music CDs, alongside local and national newspapers, access to digital books and magazines for all ages, a circulating Tech2Go collection, and much more.
The District’s services have expanded to include a digital library card, online programming, free wi-fi, mobile printing, technology assistance, passport applications, 3D printing, digitization services, and a state of the art Studio space.
The library currently provides services to the approximately 600 people that visit the building each day. In addition, the library offers hundreds of programs with an estimated 20,000 attendees each year. Annual events like Maker Day, the Summer Learning Challenge, and Ghouls & Golf provide fun opportunities for learning and connection in New Lenox.
Information
The Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act, 75 ILCS 70
Please submit FOIA requests to Michelle Krooswyk at director@newlenoxlibrary.org
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund’s Employer Cost & Participation Information
In accordance with Public Act 097-0609, the Library must provide a list of all employees whose total compensation package equals or exceeds $75,000.