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player ready...Naperville Public Library is celebrating 125 years of service this month. What started as one man’s dream to share his passion for knowledge and books has grown into a library system that continuously ranks as one of the best in the country.
With three separate buildings, more than 525,000 items in our collection and more than 61,000 cardholders, Naperville Public Library has changed a lot over the decades.
Take a walk down memory lane with us as we share the important moments that transformed the library into the one you know and love today!
1851 — Naperville Public Library founder, James Nichols, is born in Germany. At the age of 6, he arrives in the U.S. with his family.
1869 — Nichols is abandoned by his family but manages to teach himself the English language and earns his teaching certificate.
1886 — Nichol’s textbook, “The Business Guide,” is published. It would go on to sell more than 3 million copies. Nichols leaves his job as a professor at North-Western College (now known as North Central College) to continue his work at his publishing company and pursue other business interests.
1895 — James Nichols passes away. On his death bed, he bequeaths $10,000 to the city of Naperville to establish a library. His wife, Elizabeth, recalled, “He expressed to me a desire to leave a gift of a library to Naperville so that no boy or girl should be without books as he had been.”
Sept. 22, 1898 — Nichols Library formally opens at 110 S. Washington St. About 300 people attend the event. There are about 700 books in its initial collection.
September-December 1898 — Edna Goss, the first librarian, spends three months organizing the library and cataloging books. By December, Goss teaches Hannah Ditzler to take over as chief librarian. Ditzler earns a salary of $25 per month.
1909 — Mary Barbara Egermann is appointed head librarian and asks the library board for space on the upper level of the library to create the first city museum. The museum contains military memorabilia, photos, letters and diaries of old Naperville families. This collection can currently be found at Naper Settlement.
1946 — Miriam Fry takes over as chief librarian. She has a telephone installed in the building and keeps the doors open every weekday.
1962 — The original building starts running out of space and an addition is built.
1983 — Just 20 years after the new addition was added to the original building, a referendum passes to build a new library building.
March 11, 1986 — The new Nichols Library opens at its current location, 200 W. Jefferson St.
September 1989 — The first automated library card catalog goes online.
Dec. 29, 1992 — Naper Blvd. Library opens at 2035 S. Naper Blvd. as Naperville’s population continues to grow. Both floors of the new building are quickly filled with materials.
Sept. 21, 2003 — 95th Street Library opens at 3015 Cedar Glade Drive after land is purchased to add a third building in south Naperville.
2020 — During the COVID-19 pandemic, the library quickly adapts by introducing new services and online resources, including curbside pick-up and taking beloved programs like storytimes online.
2022 — Under the direction of Executive Director Dave Della Terza, Naperville Public Library undergoes a rebranding effort. The new logo design, inspired by 3D paper art, features purple, green and orange banners meant to look like Ns, representing not only Naperville but each of the three building locations.
September 2023 — The library celebrates 125 incredible years.
Since its inception in the late 19th century, Naperville Public Library has grown with the city. No matter what the future holds, our staff will continue to respond to the needs of our customers in new and creative ways.
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We look forward to serving the Naperville community for another 125 years and beyond!
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.