Cahokia Public Library

141 Cahokia Park Drive

Ph:(618)332-1491

Fax:(618)332-1104

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Welcome to the Cahokia Public Library.

Your library is a member of the Lewis & Clark Library System, which allows borrowers access to over 2 million items.

The library provides free services to all residents living within the Cahokia boundaries.  Services are also available to all others for a fee.

Our friendly and professional staff is eager to serve you!

Cahokia Public Mission Statement

The Cahokia Public Library District's mission is to provide materials and services for community residents of all ages to meet their informational, recreational, and educational needs.  Special emphasis is placed on providing current and popular materials in various formats, and on the enrichment of preschool and primary aged children through materials and programming.  Library services and programs are actively encouraged and promoted.

Cahokia Public Library History

Cahokia was established on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1699 by French-Canadian missionaries.  It is the oldest European settlement in the Mississippi Valley and the home of three significant historical landmarks of the French Colonial and early American period.  The village grew and prospered during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Its citizens played a role in the American Revolutionary War when they pledged themselves to the American cause.

The population of early Cahokia, never more than 800 persons, surged with the post WWII housing boom.  A public library was needed for the large influx of people, many with growing families!

Carla Pluff, a local historian and soon-to-be first librarian, began the library with a collection of reading materials in her home.  Popular with residents and students alike, the book collection was soon moved to the basement of the new Cahokia Village Hall at 103 Main Street.  Having promised to seek public status under Illinois law for the fledgling library, Mayor Orville Bremer was issued the very first library borrower's card.  The citizen's of Cahokia voted to establish a public library for the village.  Cahokia Public Library's official birthday is May 1, 1969.

Early years of the public library, headed by Clara Pluff, saw an exhilarating growth of library collection and services.  The library participated in a wide variety of community events; became a member of the Kaskaskia Library System; and added audio tapes, LP's and magazines to its collection.

Popularity of the library and growth of the collection compelled the library board and staff to seek larger and more easily accessible quarters.  A storefront in the Cahokia Village Shopping Center became the new home of the library in 1973.  Now able to accommodate a larger collection, Cahokia Public Library began to borrow heavily from the collection of its library system in order to provide users with a wide, ever-changing variety of popular fiction and non-fiction, audio recordings, and art prints.  During its tenure in the shopping center, library staff grew in numbers, preschool program and storytime hours were established, and the first annual Christmas Cookie Exchange took place.

Jim Johnson, a professional librarian with public library and library system experience, took over the direction of Cahokia Public Library in 1976.  Under Johnson's guidance, the library board began to plan a library building for Cahokia.  The Village donated several lots in the newly-established Cahokia Park for this purpose.  Federal library construction grants were sought.

Taking the reins from Johnson in 1978, librarian Loretta Lopinot continued with library building plans.  These became a reality in 1982 when a 6,000 square foot, modern structure was opened to the public at 140 Cahokia Park Drive.  The library stands today as testament to the hard work and dedication of many library trustees, staff members, volunteers, and community supporters.

An important step was taken on May 1, 1995 when Cahokia Public Library became Cahokia Public Library District by means of a court order.  As an Illinois library district, the library is an independent unit of local government with the power to levy taxes, own property, create policy and extend its boundaries.

Currently, Cahokia Public Library has a collection of 30,000 books, 1,200 audio recordings, and 79 periodical subscriptions.  It circulates over 70,000 items annually, hosts programs that draw more than 2,700 children per year, and provides 9 computers for public use.  Staff is composed of six full-time and five part-time workers who minister to library user needs at the circulation desk, answer reference questions, plan and execute programs, and reach out to the community with a variety of projects and activities.