Decatur Public Library to host 150 years in service party

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Decatur Public Library has been in service since 1875, which means it's been serving the Decatur for 150 years.

This calls for a celebration-a year-long celebration!

“Our first event is going to be a library history panel on January 16th at 6 p.m. In the Madden Auditorium… and we’ve invited back former employees, former board members, and some current employees as well to discuss their time here working at the Decatur Public Library,” said Becky Damptz, the Head of the Archives and Special Collections of the Decatur Public Library.

Every month, the library will have different events. In March, the Indie Folk band Hungry Town will be in, and in April, they will host a color run.

It's hard to believe that 150 years has already passed. But the archivist is determined to commemorate it in a big way.

“We’re writing a really good booklet on the history of the library and its impact on Decatur, on how Decatur has impacted the library too. We have these documents and you can go through them and actually a 100 year old piece of paper that says, this is what was going on at this time…"

As for funding, let's just say some members of the community really believe in the cause.

“We’re very fortunate that our friends and our foundation are very supportive of this. All the money that we’re using is from the friends, the foundation, and a special sponsor that we have…none of the money is coming out of the library’s regular budget," said Damptz.

The friends of the library aren’t the only people who made this possible

It’s the community who really made the whole 150 years worth it.

“if you go on the website, there is a thing called your story is our story. And we are asking patrons to fill in this form and tell us the story. And then we’re planning on putting together a display, or an exhibit up in our exhibit space where we put out those stories for other people to read and enjoy, and they will help celebrate the 150th that way too, as your story is our story,” said Damptz.