St. Charles Library Heads Home To Sixth Avenue

ST. CHARLES—The books are stacked, packed, and ready to move as St. Charles library employees take on the major task of relocating to their newly renovated home on Sixth Avenue.

From now until late June, the library will be closed and the behind the scenes work transferring all materials will get underway.

A grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 17 at 2 p.m. at the library.

“After many years of deliberate planning and responsible financial stewardship, the library’s renovation project came to fruition, resulting in a beautiful, accessible library for our community,” Library Director Edith Craig said in a column for Kane County Chronicle.

Craig said that feedback from patrons, stakeholders and focus groups helped library officials create the building’s design, which includes new features and expanded space.

The $18.6 million renovation will “modernize and upgrade” much of the library’s current space. Craig said she hopes this will make the library a gathering place for patrons well into the 21st century. The building will include new study rooms and community rooms to accommodate guests.

Some of other features include:

• Rearrangement of the main Library floor to create a “grand reading room” complete with fireplaces, tables, and furniture.
• Construction of a terraced garden next to the new entrance to allow more natural light into the Lower Level and for the incorporation of green program space.
• Addition of a drive-up window on the south side of the building to allow for quick patron service.
• Addition of an outdoor patio seating area at the site of the current entrance on the southeast corner of the building overlooking the terraced garden.

Before the renovation, the library’s building on Sixth Avenue was designed to serve a population of 44,000, but is currently serving a population of over 55,000 residents.

Since March, those library users have been visiting a temporary location that had been rented out at Haines Middle School

“I want to thank Community Unit School District 303 for allowing us to use Haines Middle School as our temporary home this past year,” Craig said in her column. “We couldn’t have completed this project within our time frame without their support.”

In addition to the ceremony and opening day events, the library has planned special events to celebrate through Friday, July 23 with guided tours and a variety of programming and activities for all ages.

For more detailed information about these events, make sure to visit scpld.org and follow along social media channels.

Using the Library While It’s Closed

• If you need assistance staff are available during regular business hours, by phone 630-584-0076, text 630-998-7275, or email
• Remote book drops are open during the closure. Use any of our five locations or return items to any SWAN library
• You can check out items with your library card at any library in the SWAN network
• No fines will accumulate
• No materials will be due
• Online resources will continue to be available 24/7 including eBooks and downloads
• St. Charles Library District residents can apply for a library card online