Marion Carnegie Library
🏢 Illinois Heartland Library System · Marion, Illinois
Marion Carnegie Library
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Marion Carnegie Library at 206 S. Market Street has been the heart of Williamson County reading since it opened on February 29, 1916 — built with an $18,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie and designed by Evansville architect Clifford Shopbell. A 1997 expansion added 12,000 square feet, giving three full floors to serve every age group, with evenings open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 206 S. Market Street, Marion, IL 62959
Phone: (618) 993-5935
Website: marioncarnegielibrary.org
Plus Code: 869HP3HC+RW (Marion, IL)
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📖 About Marion Carnegie Library
The Marion Carnegie Library is the public library of Marion, Illinois, the seat of Williamson County in the state's southern coalfields region. Its roots reach to 1914, when the Marion Federation of Women's Clubs — organized in 1901 — acquired a downtown lot and secured Carnegie funding. The building opened February 29, 1916, with 1,162 books and 680 initial borrowers; Marie Williams Roberts served as the first librarian and Mark Woodley as the first board president. In 1997 a major addition more than doubled the footprint, and a state grant funded a dedicated Young Adult department on the second floor in 2009. Today the three-floor building offers public computers, a meeting room, a coffee bar, printing and fax services, a children's area, teen space, and adult collections, all supported by the Illinois Heartland Library System's SHARE consortium, which connects cardholders to hundreds of member libraries across southern and central Illinois.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places — opened February 29, 1916, built with an $18,000 Andrew Carnegie grant
- Designed by Evansville architect Clifford Shopbell in a Neoclassical civic style; 1997 expansion added 12,000 sq ft across three floors
- Member of the Illinois Heartland Library System SHARE consortium — one card unlocks hundreds of Illinois public libraries
- Evening hours Monday through Thursday until 8 p.m., serving working families in Williamson County
- Programs for all ages: Book Club, Story Hour, Teen Craft, StoryWalk, Project Next Generation, and Lawyer in the Library consultations
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Marion Carnegie Library cardholders can borrow and learn for free through Illinois statewide and SHARE digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi on all three floors
- Printing, faxing and copying services
- Meeting room available for community use
- Curbside pickup for reserved materials
- Interlibrary loan through IHLS SHARE (hundreds of member libraries)
- Self-help legal resources and Lawyer in the Library consultations
- StoryWalk outdoor reading trail
🎸 Programs
- Book Club — monthly discussions of group-selected titles
- Story Hour — themed storytimes for young children
- Teen Craft — hands-on making projects for ages 12–18
- Project Next Generation (PNG) — youth enrichment program
- StoryWalk — interactive outdoor reading experience
- Summer Reading Program for children, teens and adults
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern Illinois
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this called the Marion Carnegie Library?
The library carries the Carnegie name because it was built in 1915 with an $18,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American steel magnate who funded over 2,500 libraries worldwide. The Marion Federation of Women's Clubs lobbied for the grant, and the building opened on February 29, 1916. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still serves as the community's public library at 206 S. Market Street.
What are the Marion Carnegie Library's evening hours?
The library is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. The extended weekday evenings make it convenient for working adults and students who cannot visit during the day.
Can I borrow materials from other Illinois libraries with my Marion Carnegie card?
Yes. Marion Carnegie Library is a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) SHARE consortium, which links hundreds of public libraries across southern and central Illinois. Your library card lets you request items from any SHARE member library through the shared catalog at mrnp.illshareit.com, with no additional fees.
Does the library offer any free legal help?
Yes. The library runs a 'Lawyer in the Library' program that provides brief, free consultations with a licensed attorney. It also maintains a self-help legal resources collection. Check the library's event calendar or call (618) 993-5935 for upcoming Lawyer in the Library dates.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
