Records show that Chatsworth has had a library since 1878. Through the years the library has outgrown its space and has moved to new locations. The present library has once again out grown its space.

When the library needed new books in the early years a box social would be held where the price of admission would be a new book. When the library moved there were one thousand books to move. Today our library has over ten thousand volumes on the shelves.

The Library Board is applying for a construction grant from the state which will provide a fifty per cent match up to a total match of $125,000. This is an opportunity to continue to provide services to the residents of the township of Chatsworth and the surrounding townships in an economical manner.

The Board is considering a plan to double the size of the library by building an addition on the back side of the present facility. We can build an addition approximately 50 feet by 25 feet and still have room for several handicapped accessible spaces. If we do not build we must still remodel to provide wheelchair accessibility and handicapped restroom. To make these renovations would decrease the size of our current facility when we are already without room.

For these reasons, we are, for the first time in the library history, asking for help. Every penny we receive through donation will help offset the cost of building and continuing our service to the community. We cannot proceed with obtaining the grant if we do not have enough funding by December 30. Nor will we build if we cannot afford the project. Will you give careful thought to this issue and pledge to help us in our endeavor to reach our goal of $200,000. We know this is more than a box social book donation, but believe each of us can make a small donation to enable a big project to be completed.

Thank you in advance for your donation and/or pledge as well as continued support of our township library. Please stop by the library and check out the progress of the building fund or return to this page to watch the progress of our first ever fundraiser.

Your Library Board

$8246.32

Dear Neighbor,

• Offer more children’s programming

• Offer more children’s books

• Expand computer access and capabilities

• Establish a children’s computer learning center

• Provide an area for small group book discussions, board meetings, etc.

• Be a Wi-Fi hotspot

• Provide a reading area for patron use

• Expand our hours to accommodate more diverse schedules

• Provide more books, newspapers and magazines for patron’s pleasure

• Become wheelchair accessible

• Provide handicapped accessible restroom

• Re-establish the Library Friends Volunteer Program

• Add square footage to building

We appreciate your attention to our request and thank you in advance for your generosity. Please send your donation with this Pledge Form in an envelope to 432 East Locust Street PO Box 638 Chatsworth, IL 60921.