Peoria Public Library — Downtown
🏢 Peoria Public Library · Main Library, Peoria, Illinois
Peoria Public Library — Downtown
Anchoring downtown Peoria since February 11, 1897, the Main Library is the flagship of one of Illinois's first tax-supported public library systems — a legacy rooted in Peoria's Erastus Willcox, who drafted the 1872 state law that 47 other states would later adopt as their own.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 107 NE Monroe, Peoria, IL 61602
Phone: (309) 497-2000
Website: peoriapubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86GGMCW4+2V (Peoria, IL)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Peoria Public Library — Downtown
The Peoria Public Library traces its founding to 1880, when residents voted to establish one of Illinois's earliest tax-supported public library systems, made possible by a state statute drafted by local library champion Erastus Willcox. The current Downtown Main Library at 107 NE Monroe opened on February 11, 1897, built of Lake Superior red sandstone and red brick, and has anchored Peoria's civic life ever since. A $28 million Libraries for All renovation campaign, completed between 2011 and 2012, modernized all five system branches — giving the Main Library an open floor plan, self-checkout stations, an 80-seat auditorium, a public computer lab, and nine reservable meeting and classroom spaces. Today the five-branch system serves approximately 115,000 residents and belongs to the Resource Sharing Alliance (RSA), a 145-member consortium linking patrons to materials from more than 175 library agencies across 26 counties of central and west-central Illinois.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1880 — one of Illinois's first tax-supported public libraries; the Monroe Street building opened February 11, 1897, built of Lake Superior red sandstone
- Local History & Genealogy Room (Lower Level 1): FamilySearch affiliate access, Ancestry Library Edition, 773 digitized Peoria volumes, city directories from 1844, and funeral home records back to 1908
- Seed Library — free vegetable, herb, and flower seeds available exclusively at the Downtown Main Library for Peoria cardholders
- Free IRIS (Illinois Reliable Information Sources) access: 50+ EBSCO databases for all Illinois residents, launched June 2026 by the Illinois Secretary of State
- RSA member: one card unlocks materials from 175+ library branches across 26 central Illinois counties
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Peoria cardholders can stream, download and research free through Illinois's statewide IRIS program and the library's local digital collections:
📚 Services
- Local History & Genealogy Room (Lower Level 1) — Peoria newspaper indexes from 1834, Civil War regimental histories, Sanborn fire-insurance maps, city directories 1844–1916, yearbooks 1901–2020, FamilySearch affiliate access
- Seed Library — borrow vegetable, herb and flower seeds at no cost (Main Library only)
- Nine reservable meeting and event spaces including an 80-seat auditorium, two classrooms and conference rooms
- Public computer lab with free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Self-checkout stations for fast, independent borrowing
- Peoria County Legal Self-Help Center — free legal reference resources
- Peoria Riverfront Museum Pass — free museum admission with your library card
- Tax forms and seasonal tax-prep assistance
- Interlibrary loan through the 175+ agency RSA network
🎸 Programs
- Peoria Reads! — community-wide reading initiative with author events and discussions
- Book and film clubs for adults
- AI and technology workshops in the lower-level computer lab
- Gardening and Seed Library programming (spring and summer)
- Music in the McKenzie — live music events at the Main Library
- StoryWalks — self-guided outdoor reading experiences for families
- Children's storytimes and STEM programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Illinois
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Peoria Public Library's downtown building, and why is it historically significant?
The library's original Monroe Street building opened February 11, 1897 — but the story starts earlier. In 1880 Peoria residents voted to fund one of Illinois's first tax-supported public libraries, thanks to a Public Library Act drafted in 1872 by Peoria civic leader Erastus Willcox. That law became the model adopted by 47 other states, making Peoria the birthplace of the modern American public library statute. The 1897 building was constructed of Lake Superior red sandstone for $67,852 and has served the community ever since.
What is the Local History & Genealogy Room, and what records can I research there?
Located on Lower Level 1 of the Main Library, the Local History & Genealogy Room is a specialized research center focused on Peoria — widely regarded as the oldest European settlement in Illinois, dating to 1691. Holdings include city directories from 1844 to 1916, Peoria newspaper indexes from 1834 onward, high school yearbooks from 1901 to 2020, funeral home records (Wenzeler 1908–1954; Boland 1922–1978), Sanborn fire-insurance maps, Civil War regimental histories, and photograph collections. The library is a FamilySearch affiliate, granting in-building access to expanded digitized records; Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest Online are also available on-site.
What is the Seed Library at the Main Library?
The Seed Library — located exclusively at the Downtown Main Library — lets any library cardholder borrow packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds at no cost. Patrons check out seeds just like books, grow them through the season, and are encouraged (but not required) to save and return seeds at harvest to keep the collection growing. It is the only Seed Library location in the Peoria Public Library system.
Can I borrow materials from libraries outside of Peoria with my card?
Yes. Peoria Public Library is a member of the Resource Sharing Alliance (RSA), a non-profit consortium connecting approximately 145 library agencies across 26 contiguous counties in central and west-central Illinois. A single RSA catalog search surfaces items from more than 175 branch locations; eligible items can be requested for pickup at any Peoria branch.
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