Library History
The Indian Trails Public Library District is a public library district located in Wheeling, Illinois, United States, serving 65,500 residents in Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights. The library also has a branch located at 99 E. Palatine Road in Prospect Heights. Between July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, 337,377 people visited the Indian Trails Library and 1,036,004 items were loaned. The library hosted 1,417 programs that were attended by 31,477 people.* The library is a member of Cooperative Computer Services. CCS is a group of public libraries in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago that share a database for circulation, acquisitions, cataloging, interlibrary loan and an online public access catalog. Over 5 million items are available to members through this collection.
2019-2025
The library joined the CCS (Cooperative Computer Services) consortium of libraries ion October 21, 2019, giving its members access to materials from libraries in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago that collectively share a catalog. The library saw a 26% increase in materials checkouts in the first 11 days under the newly expanded catalog. In late 2019 the library went “fine-free”. Material renewals switched to automatically renew for up to 3 time cycles if no holds were placed on requested items. The overall objective is to get all library materials back for someone else to check out. Indian Trails Public Library received a 3-star rating in Library Journal’s 2022 national rating of public libraries. 5,359 libraries were indexed and only 258 received stars. The Branch underwent an interior renovation in 2023 to refresh fixturing, walls and flooring. From 2021-2024, The Foundation for Indian Trails Library funded through generous donations from the community, a youth sensory wall that provides tactile, visual and auditory sensory input to stimulate the brain and improve sensory processing systems and provides an experience to improve coordination and develop fine/gross motor skills. The wall was installed in the summer of 2024 into the early learning area of the Youth Services Department. The Middle Ground space was reimagined into the new Teen Space where students Grades 6-12 can gather to study, visit, create art or join friends to enjoy games. In 2025, two EV charging stations are currently being installed on the north side of the main library parking lot.
1999-2018
With a newly expanded renovation from a referendum passed four years prior, the building size reached 44,900 square feet in 1999. The additional space provided for a self-checkout station, a newspaper/magazine area, a computer lab, a larger dividable programming room, group study and silent reading rooms. In 2001, another referendum passed increasing operating expenses by $465,00 a year for the first time since 1972.
The next several years saw an expansion in library services including homework help via Tutor.com, e-books and adding Wifi. The library’s website address www.indiantrailslibrary.org was established and by 2003 the library was open 73 hours a week. From 2005-2009 the library saw two smaller remodels adding a front room for new materials and a space for community displays. Four years later, additional public seating and computers were added. A new bookmobile was purchased through funds provided by the library’s Foundation and other community donations. The larger bookmobile could hold twice as many items and included foreign language materials, DVDs and hardcovers.
In 2009, the library continued to embrace digital trends by replacing print collections with online database subscriptions and offering downloadable ebooks. During this time the library also began offering more programs and services for its diverse population. The library became a host location for District 214’s Read to Learn program for English and Second Language learners. Mango Languages databases were added and became accessible in the library or from home with an ITPLD library card.
The library’s Giving Garden was formed with the Wheeling Garden Club and the Youth Services Department to help teach kids about gardening. A RFID system – Radio Frequency Identification was added to the library’s collection allowing members to return items instantaneously.
In 2010, the Prospect Heights Branch location in the Palwaukee Shopping Center opened. The facility originally stored 2,000 items serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking community, along with four computers. Due to high demand within the community, the Branch moved to its current location in 2012. In 2013, a partnership was formed between the Prospect Heights Police Department and Branch staff to support a series of summer field trips for children to area museums, bike rides and recreational activities.
In 2011, a referendum passed that increased library funding to an additional $500,000 a year. This would lead the way for the 2016-2017 renovation of the current library location at 355 Schoenbeck Rd., adding 15,000 square feet to the location.
2013 marked the year that Brian Shepard joined the library as the new executive director. The following year the architectural firm Architecture + Design of Chicago is selected and approved by the library board to start plans for the library renovation. On Day, Month, 2016, the ground is ceremoniously broke to officially kick off the renovation project.
Nearly one year later on April 10, 2017, the newly renovated library opens. The library has an interior remodeling and offers new services, including The Launch Pad makerspace, study rooms, The Middle Ground catering to middle school students, a drive-up window and the Muriel Lischett Reading Room located in Adult Services on the second floor.
District Population Size
2001 | 65,690
2010 | 67,010
Collection
1999 | 200,000 (41,8282 card holders)
2008 | 266,831 (1 million items checked out in a fiscal year)
2018 | 202,182 (55,298 cardholders)
Staff Size
2007 | 93 staff
2013 | 100 staff
2016 | Under 80 staff during the library’s renovation
2018 | 92 staff
Library Services
1999 | Self-checkout station added.
2000 | Online Book Club emails you 2-3 chapters of a book daily.
2002 | The library’s catalog is accessible online outside the library.
2003 | •Launches e-books through netLibrary service. •Library hours expanded to 73 a week.
2004-2006 |•New Library Bookmobile expands service year-round. •Wifi added to the library. •Downloadable e-books.
2007 |•District 214’s Read to Learn program offered at the library. •Pay for print and computer reservation system.
2008 | •The Giving Garden is formed with the Wheeling Garden Club. •RFID system installed.
2009-2011 | •Prospect Heights Branch location in the Palwaukee shopping center opens. •Downloadable music, up to three a week can be downloaded onto MP3 players.
2013 | Partnership with Prospect heights Police Department to support a series of summer trips for kids.
2017 | •Digital and Maker Services formed. Launch Pad and Media Labs open. •9 Study Rooms, Drive up, ESL Lab. •Middle Ground space, dedicated youth activity room and youth Maker table.
1978-1998
The next 20 years saw a bookend of growth to the library’s building in order to meet the quickly changing and technological needs of its community members. During this timeframe, the library’s district population grew by 35%. In 1980, the district’s population was 43,500 and by 1994, it grew to 58,789. Two library building expansions follow this growth, along with changes in library service as the world enters the age of the Internet.
The larger library provided an expansion of other services including a new room dedicated to children’s programs and 3 typing rooms. Popular programs included babysitting and bicycle registration clinics, a chess club, floral arrangement and candle wicking. School Services visited Grade 7 classrooms each fall to promote library services, given this is when students started to write term papers. The library book van offered its summer service of 16 weekly stops to sidewalks and playgrounds.
The 80s saw other changes in library services. Working with 2 other libraries and Roosevelt University, the library began broadcasting 20 hours of programs each week on cable television. Channel 8 and 33 for subscribers of the American Cable Systems, the shows ranged from old movies to talk shows. With federal grant funds, a 12-interview series with Illinois authors were added, including Gene Wolfe, mystery writer Sara Paretsky, and Jack Fuller.
The Friends of Library celebrated their 10-year anniversary in 1986. The group had grown from its original 12 members to 50 volunteers. They held 3 used book sales a year, with the sale proceeds going towards library needs such as a typewriter, printing press, lobby display case, cataloging records computer and a puppet stand.
Service to Homebound members as well as library delivery of materials to Wheeling Tower residents was offered. In 1988 the library’s first in-library use personal computer was made available through a donation from the Friends of the Library. The following year the library joined 29 other libraries to provide Night Owl Service, which was a free of charge reference phone service answering questions to members after library hours.
The 90s saw the library at a fast pace to keep up with changing technology. In 1991, members could dial into the library’s card catalog from home computers, shortly followed by the introduction of CD-ROM technology. There were compact discs providing access to a wide range of information from health reports, current events, or business statistics as well as newspaper and magazine access such as the Chicago Tribune, New York Times and USA Today to name a few. In 1994 the library joins the worldwide Internet computer network adding two public computers and launching its own website the following year. The website took two months to complete and cost almost $10,000 to design.
As the library enters the last decade of the 20th century, there is a need again for expansion as the library finds itself short on space for both its collection and the ever-changing service needs of the community. The collection has grown by 138%, the shelves were cramped and the need for more technology and programming space lead the library to two more referendum attempts. The first in 1994 failed, but the following year it was passed, allowing the way for a 14,500-square-foot addition which opened on November 21, 1998. The expansion saw a new computer lab, a larger dividable programming room and rooms for group study and silent reading.
District Population Size
1980 | 43,500
1986 | 55,125
1994 | 58,789
Collection
1978 | 80,000
1981 | 100,000
1984 | 134,427
1986 | 170,768 (Cardholders 34,308)
1991 | 208,599 (Cardholders 44,306)
1997 | 238,882 (Cardholders 44,486)
Hours
1978-1998 the library’s hours remained at 68 hours during the summer with the library being closed on Sundays, and 72 hours during the rest of the year.
Staff
1978 | 38 staff
1984 | 85 staff
1992 | 92 staff
1997 | 93 staff
Library Services
1981 | •3 typing rooms. •Babysitting and bicycle registration clinics. •Videos are available for checkout.
1986 | •Library Cable Network. •Library delivery service to homebound members and Wheeling Tower residents.
1988 | Friends of the Library donate the library’s first in-library use personal computer.
1989 | Library joins Night Owl Service.
1991 | •Bilingual Tours. •Members can dial into the library’s card catalog from home computers.
1993 | CD-ROM Technology is added.
1994 | The library connects to the World Wide Web.
1995 | Two public computers are available and the library’s website is launched.
Significant Highlights
1977-78 | •First 3.5 Million Referendum 3.5 Million Bond, followed by a failed attempt at a Second Reference for 3.1 Million. •The library broke ground at 355 Schoenbeck Rd. location.
1984 | •Library’s 25th Anniversary. •29,000 cardholders. Kids at age 5 can get a card library. They are given a tour of the Young People’s area and a goodie bag with a bookmark, eraser and a balloon.
1985 | The Friends of the Library service and program brochure wins the American Library Association’s Best in Show competition of public relations and promotional materials in the Friends of the Library category.
1986 | •The library’s first Annual Report. •The Friends of Library’s 10th anniversary.
1994-95 | •The second of two referendum attempts passes a 3.8 million loan for the construction of a 14,500 sq foot addition to the library 1998. •Library’s new building addition opens on November 21, 1998.
1958-1978
In 1939, the current day Walt Whitman Elementary School, in the budding community of Wheeling, housed a small collection of books that were available to students and the public to check out. It would take 19 years for an “official” library to be established through the initiative of the Wheeling Junior Women’s Club.
With assistance from local service organizations, the Wheeling Junior Women’s Club solicited donations of money and books. Known today as “Book and a Buck,” the campaign was led by Muriel Lischett, who would become the library’s first librarian. The group collected $450 and 2,000 books to start.
The idea of a library formed long before as a childhood memory of Lischett, who grew up in Oak Park, where her love of reading blossomed. Upon moving to Wheeling in 1958 and discovering it had no local library; it became a personal mission of Muriel to establish a library for the community.
In October 1958, the Wheeling Public Library opened in a 20 by 30-foot one-room building located in the back of the Union Hotel on Milwaukee Avenue. Volunteers and books quickly filled the space, and by 1960, the community of Wheeling voted to establish a library district with an official board and budget. Three years later the building doubled in size, moving near the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road.
Muriel Lischett and Mary Burlingham, another volunteer, became head librarians, with Muriel going on to earn her associate’s library degree in 1977 from then William Rainey Harper College. By 1970, a referendum was passed and the funds were used to purchase and remodel a church at 750 Jenkins Ct., tripling the space of the library. Ken Swanson was hired as the administrative librarian in 1972, and in 1974, a portion of Buffalo Grove was annexed to the library district. The library changed its name from Wheeling to Indian Trails Public Library District to better reflect the three communities (Wheeling, Buffalo Grove and Prospect Heights) it served.
Population size served
1958 | 8,000
1968-70 | 21,000
1978 | 50,000
Collection
1958 | 2,000: 9,000 donated books in its first year
1965 |12,725
1970 | 29,000
1971 | 32,446
Hours open per week
1958 | 16
1965 | 25
1964 | 67
Staff
1958-1960 |2 paid staff, volunteers and the library board.
1967 | 7 part-time adult positions and 3-page positions. The head librarian’s hourly salary was $2.75/hr. Pages earned $.75/hr., which was increased by $.25/hr. every 6 months.
Services
1958 | Bookkeeping, secretarial and reference desk duties.
1960 | Storytimes and a Summer Reading Program added.
1963 | Children’s room added.
1970 | Copy machine added.
1971 | Formal library departments included Adult, Circulation and Technical Services. A dumbwaiter is used to move materials from the first to the second floor.
1974 | Library materials begin to be computerized.
1978 | Land at 355 Schoenbeck Rd. location purchased for $133,000.
*Funding and Statistics stated are for the end of the most recent fiscal year. Further information may be accessed through the annual Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR). (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024)