From 1944 to 1956 the Woman's Club took the responsibility to fund, sponsor and staff the library. In 1956 the Library Committee of the Woman's Club circulated petitions favoring a property tax levy and directors. The Library remained at that location until 1972 when it moved to 124 East Carroll Street. In the spring of 1977 the library moved into the Lanark City Hall building at 110 West Carroll Street where it still resides today. Because the Library is funded with city property tax dollars and the support of the Lanark City Council, residents may have a free family library card if they live within the city limits of Lanark or if they pay real estate taxes on city property.
Identification bearing an individual's current name and address is required.
People who do not live within the Lanark city limits, do not own property in the city of Lanark, or do not have a card from another public library in Illinois may purchase a yearly family card from the Lanark Public Library. The Lanark Public Library honors valid library cards issued from any public library in Illinois. System wide cards are also available for non-residents to purchase for use at any library that is a member of the Northern Illinois Library System. About the Library Adult Department patrons will find a variety of popular materials, as well as older fiction and thousands of useful and interesting nonfiction titles. Audio tapes, video tapes, large print books, as well as current magazines and newspapers are also available.