In November of 1989, a referendum was passed by the citizens of Huntley and surrounding areas to form a library district. The first Library Board included Len Borhart, Jan Crabill, Richard Drendel, Hazel Kloempken, Karen Kohley, Frances Sheets and Chuck Ruth, President. In 1990 the Board purchased the Huntley Medical Building, located on the corner of Algonquin Road and Church Street to serve as the first library building.
In April of that year, the first full time librarian, Jane Thompson, was hired. In November of 1996, the library was bursting, and the Library Board purchased 7 acres on Ruth Road from the Ackmann Family.
A $250,000 grant was received in June of 1998 to offset construction costs, and in July Governor George Ryan was present for the groundbreaking of the new 15,000 square foot facility. In October, the current Library Director, Virginia Maravilla, was hired.
The present Huntley Library opened in 1999. Since then, the library has seen tremendous growth in step with our booming population. In the first fiscal year, the library’s circulation was up 219% over the previous year.
Upon Director Maravilla’s retirement in November 2009, Patrick McDonald became the library’s third Director. Due to the growth of the area and library crowding, a temporary mobile annex was installed on the building’s east side in January 2010. This space created a larger Children’s Area and a small program room for onsite events and activities.
McDonald was replaced by Frank Novak in April of 2014. Novak was essential to the library’s growth. His wealth of experience with building programs was put to use when the library’s board of trustees sought to expand. In 2018, Novak met with focus groups throughout the community to seek input on what a new library would look like.
A referendum was placed on the April 2019 ballot and 67% of voters supported and approved the measure.
The newly renovated and expanded Huntley Area Public Library opened on February 7, 2022.
As of 2023 the 36,500 sq. ft. library serves over 43,000 residents.
