Arlington Heights Memorial Library

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is a beacon of knowledge and culture in this bustling town. It’s a place where stories come to life and imaginations soar. This library has a rich and fascinating history, dating back to 1887. It all began in the home of Mrs. Amos Walker, the wife of a school principal. She and her friends formed a “ladies’ reading circle” and started collecting books. This circle eventually evolved into the Arlington Heights Woman’s Club. A small collection of books grew into a public library. In 1896, the Woman’s Club established a public library in the home of Miss Effie and Miss Lucy Shepard on North Dunton Avenue. It opened with 150 books and was open for only two days a week. A few years later, in 1909, the library moved to a small room in the school building on St. James Street, where it remained for 18 years. The library wasn’t officially a public library until 1926. The library quickly grew in popularity and its collection grew. The library was dedicated to the memory of the service men and women of Arlington Heights and was renamed the “Memorial Library”. After a time, the library had to be relocated to 112 N. Belmont Avenue. The library was named after the Arlington Heights servicemen and women who served in the military. In 1968, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library finally moved to its permanent location at 500 N. Dunton Avenue. So, if you need to do research for your schoolwork or simply want to browse the latest books, be sure to visit the Arlington Heights Memorial Library!