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Shelbyville Public Library
“Empowering Shelbyville readers, learners, and creators of all ages”
Shelbyville’s Public Library is of classic French Renaissance design, built with funding provided by Andrew Carnegie, and dedicated in 1905. It is handicapped accessible with many services available for visitors and patrons.
In keeping with the Library’s plan to always enhance the building’s historical and structural integrity, a face-lift was completed in 1995. Fluorescent fixtures were replaced with period and recessed lighting with table lamps placed on tables that originally held them. An unsightly aging air conditioning system was replaced and concealed.
With a grant from the State Library in 2000, the Library added an additional four rooms. These rooms and the interior of the rest of the building were carpeted, painted, and woodworked so as to coordinate and incorporate the new and the old.
Visitors are encouraged to come and enjoy a quiet interlude while viewing fluted pilasters, oak arches, fireplaces and many original furnishings.
Shelbyville Public Library
Beyond its striking physical presence, the library functions as an essential, beating heart for residents of all ages. Generations of Shelbyville families have walked through its doors, transitioning from wide-eyed children attending preschool story hours to students researching high school projects and adults seeking quiet reading spaces. Careful modern expansions have seamlessly blended contemporary resources with historic elegance, ensuring the facility remains deeply relevant.
Shelbyville Public Library
Shelbyville Public Library: Opening doors, expanding minds, and connecting our community.
Shelbyville Public Library
Andrew Carnegie, the person who’s funding was responsible for the construction of many libraries across Illinois including the Shelbyville Public Library.
Shelbyville Public Library
Lifelong learning and early literacy thrive inside its walls through robust community programs. Initiatives like the beloved summer reading challenges and local participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library spark a genuine passion for books among the town’s youngest members. These programs transform reading from a solitary school requirement into an exciting, shared community adventure.
Shelbyville Public Library
Practical utility matches the library’s charm by offering vital technological and administrative resources to the public. Patrons frequently utilize high-speed internet terminals, dependable faxing, copying, and laminating services that bridge crucial everyday gaps. Furthermore, well-maintained meeting rooms provide a reliable, welcoming home base for local non-profit groups and collaborative civic gatherings.
Shelbyville Public Library
Resource sharing networks vastly expand what is physically stored on the shelves, connecting locals to a massive catalog of regional materials. Through participation in cooperative resource-sharing systems, residents can easily request specialized books, media, and academic texts that arrive right at their hometown counter. This vast network guarantees that local curiosity is never limited by small-town geography.
Shelbyville Public Library
The dedicated staff and supportive local governance cultivate an environment of warmth, inclusivity, and eager assistance. Whether a patron needs deep genealogical research guidance, a recommendation for a compelling weekend thriller, or help navigating digital archives, welcoming guidance is always close at hand. This human element turns a simple room of books into a vibrant sanctuary of belonging.
Ultimately, the Shelbyville Public Library is far more than a mere repository of literature; it is a living monument to community resilience and shared curiosity. By honoring its historical roots while continuously adapting to modern needs, it remains an irreplaceable anchor that enriches the daily fabric of Shelbyville life.
What are your opening hours?
Mon-Fri. 8:00 – 6:00pm
Sat – 9:00 – 1:00pm
Sun – Closed
Can anyone join the Library?
Get a Library Card
Shelbyville Public Library is supported by city taxes.
We provide free cards valid for 3 years to the following:
Residents within city limits
Property or business owners within city limits
You will need to fill out registration form and bring in acceptable ID and proof of residency.
*Valid photo ID such a driver’s license, passport, state ID card
*Proof of residency may be a recent (30 days or less) utility bill with city address, rental receipt, lease, city property tax receipt, voter registration card, or bank statement postmarked within the last 30 days
All family members and residents sharing the same address will have their cards associated. If any cards are blocked within that association with fees or fines in excess of $5, no other cards may be used until the charges are taken care of.
For children ages 5-17, a parent or guardian must have a card, be present and fill out a child registration, and sign to acknowledge responsibility for items borrowed. All children’s cards will be associated with their parent’s account. Children under 5 are not eligible for a library card
Businesses and Organizations located within the coprorate limits may obtain a card for a maximum of three individuals authorized by the business to use the card(s). Please call the director at 774-4432 for a registration form and more information.
Property owners that live beyond the City Limits of Shelbyville but owning property within the City limits may, upon presentation of a current tax bill bearing the property owner’s name, receive a non-resident card valid for 1 year from the registration date.
Non-residents who live outside Shelbyville city limits, are served by our local school district, and are not in another library’s residency may purchase a library card from us. The current yearly fee of $120 is a state mandate based on the average the yearly taxes paid by residents within city limits.
*In agreement with Illinois Heartland Library System, we will not issue cards to anyone owing outstanding balances to other libraries.
Valid cards from Shelbyville Public Library that have no blocks may be used at any other library that is a member of Illinois Heartland Library System.
Lost cards can be replaced for $5
What can i check out?
Borrowing/Checking Out
With current library cards, patrons may check out our books, magazines, audiobooks, music CDs, and movies for two weeks at a time. If no one else has requested the material, a renewal might be possible. At this time we do not lend reference books, newspapers, or the current magazines that are in the rack. Patrons may only have borrowed up to seven total media items (videos and audio material) at a time.
Visit our online catalog to see what is available. If we own a copy, it will say in the Local Availability area. If you prefer, you can search just our library by clicking the drop down menu next to Limit By and choose My Library. Want some tips on searching? Watch a short video at https://share.illinoisheartland.org/content/how-access-and-use-opac
OR
Want something that isn’t in? Be sure to place a request for the item so we can get it to you as soon as we can.
Libraries get to set their own loaning period, so be aware that due dates of two weeks may not apply to their material.
How do i renew items?
Renew Items
Need to keep your material longer? It may be possible to renew it. You can call us at 774-4432 or login to your account online and renew the item.
Please note that most libraries have a maximum number of times material may be renewed. Sometimes new material is not allowed to be renewed. If an item belongs to another library, we are not allowed to renew their material once the maximum renewals has been met.
Are there Digital versions of books?
Digital Materials
Books, audiobooks, and magazines may be checked out in digital format. In addition, Shelbyville Public Library offers two digital databases for genealogical research.
We are part of Illinois Heartland Library System and purchase some material as a consortium under the name Library on the Go or Rolling Prairie. Using our zip code should be the easiest way for patrons to find our library within the digital apps. Patrons will then need their 14 digit library card number for their username and the last 4 digits of their driver’s license as their PIN or password. Blocks on cards from expired dates, fines, or fees will prevent patrons from accessing some digital material.
To check out ebooks or eaudiobooks, download the following apps:
and
Can i reserve one of the two meeting rooms downstairs at the library?
Yes, Reserve a Meeting Room
Non-profit organizations may request to reserve a meeting room by calling us at 217 774-4432.
At this time, meeting rooms are not available for birthday parties.
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