History of Fox River Valley Public Library

Dundee became one of the first communities in Illinois to support a public library through local taxes. This milestone marked the area’s early commitment to literacy and access to information. Today, Illinois continues to lead in public library development, ranking second in the nation for the number of central libraries.

Dr. Cleveland constructed a new building at 106 West Main Street in West Dundee, featuring his drugstore on the ground floor and an entertainment hall above. The library relocated from the Hollister offices to the ground floor of this new space, marking a new chapter in its early development.

1880s–1890s – Henry Baumann: Librarian and Druggist
In the 1880s, Dr. Cleveland employed an apprentice druggist named Henry Baumann, who also served as the town librarian. Baumann later became the sole owner of the drugstore and continued overseeing the library. By the 1890s, library books were stored on a rear balcony inside the shop, accessible only by ladder and a narrow “catwalk” used by staff.

The library relocated once again—this time returning across the street to the elegant R.L.B. Opera House. It was housed in a room on the east side of the second floor. The move may have been prompted by the addition of a telephone switchboard in its previous location. In 1909, a new switchboard and telephone office were also installed in the Opera House.

A committee was formed to explore constructing a new facility for both the library and the Dundee village offices. However, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful. As a temporary solution, the library collection was moved back across Main Street to the Sinclair Drug Store.

Initially, the library occupied only the southeast corner of the main floor when it was moved to the Dundee, IL City Hall in 1910.

By 1922, the library had outgrown its small downstairs space. The entire collection—including books, shelving, and furniture—was moved upstairs to occupy the entire southern half of the second floor.

The need for more library space remained a constant challenge. West Dundee’s population grew from 585 in 1880 to 1,850 by 1937, with East Dundee adding over 1,500 residents. What began as a collection of just 50 books in the early 1870s had expanded to 10,000 volumes by 1937.

The Carpentersville Library and Literary Association—originally founded in 1871 by Julius Angelo Carpenter—merged with the Dundee Library in 1959. The Dundee Library absorbed the Carpentersville collection, and the Carpentersville location became an official branch.

As the community grew in the 1950s, the library board, led by Joseph Estes, intensified efforts to secure a larger facility. A key advocate was Mrs. Ruth Wendt, who dedicated 26 years to the library board and was instrumental in planning for expansion. She retired in 1963, leaving a legacy of vision and service.

In 1962, the Dundee Township Library moved into its first owned building—a Victorian-era home from the 1870s known as the Brinkerhoff-Hall House, located at 218 West Main. Relocating over 12,000 books along with furniture, magazines, and other materials was a major undertaking.

The move was made on April 23, 1962, with the help of 300 volunteers, including adults, Boy and Girl Scouts, Cubs and Brownies, and their leaders, 4H club girls, and others.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, Dundee Township was experiencing significant growth. Carpentersville alone saw its population increase from 1,523 in 1950 to 17,424 by 1960. Leonard Besinger, the developer of the Meadowdale section of Carpentersville, was selling as many as 60 homes in a single weekend. The new library, while a considerable improvement in additional space compared to the former City Hall location, still proved inadequate. Within three years, discussions were underway about expansion or relocation. Under the leadership of the Board President, John Snow, the library board worked diligently to find a suitable solution to the growing demands of the community. Mr. Snow served as Principal of Hickory Hill School in Carpentersville during the early 1960s. 

The Carpentersville branch closed its doors on January 31, 1969.

1969 - Library purchases its first Book Mobile

1971 - The library Board established a building fund for the time when both the community support and a feasible library site might become available. In the summer of 1973, this site, consisting of 2 ½ acres, was purchased at 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee, IL

The Library published its first four-page newsletter in the summer of 1994. Library staff contributed articles featured in the newsletter, which was distributed at the Library. 

Original article featured in the Daily Herald, April 17, 2012

Starting July 1, the Dundee Township Public Library District will be known as the Fox River Valley Public Library District.

Officials said its old name didn’t accurately reflect the community the district serves, and late last year authorities asked residents, employees and benefactors to come up with a new one.

The old name came about in 1981, when voters agreed to form the district that served Dundee Township and the communities within it.

But as surrounding towns grew in the early 1990s, the district grabbed parts of Gilberts, Rutland Township, Algonquin, Barrington Hills and Elgin. Today, 69,338 people live in the district.

The library began accepting submissions in January and ended up with 108.

To generate the name, library officials entered the submissions into a website to determine the names most frequently used — “Fox,” “river” and “valley” were the most popular and helped officials craft the new name, Library Director Roxane Bennett said.

Library officials are delighted with the feedback and excited about the marketing opportunities that surround the new name.

“We thought about the fact that, rivers conjure up the idea of bridges and we think of the library as being a bridge between our communities,” Bennett said. “We think of the flow of the river like the information flow and the library connecting people with information.”

The board has already named the East Dundee facility the Dundee Library, while the branch under construction at the Randall Oaks Recreation Center is called the Randall Oaks Branch Library.

The Randall Oaks Library Branch is the Library’s 5,000-square-foot branch. It is located on the lower level of the Dundee Township Park District—Randall Oaks Recreation Center, located at 500 N. Randall Rd., West Dundee.

The public was asked to vote on two logo options for a new logo for the Library, choosing what is currently used with steel gray, rust orange, and a fox in the shape of a book. 

In July 2021, a large cottonwood tree that had stood sentinel in front of the Dundee Library since the 1970s was struck by lightning during a summer storm. Though not completely split, the tree was structurally compromised and, due to its proximity to the building, had to be removed. While staff were disappointed to lose such a longstanding part of the landscape, they saw an opportunity to turn loss into legacy.

The cottonwood, planted around 1976 and measuring over 10 feet in circumference, was cut down to a six-foot stump—enough for transformation. The library began searching for a chainsaw artist to create a sculpture that would add character and a sense of place to its front lawn. That search led to Chris and Brianne Hubbart of Hubbart Wood in Hillsboro, Illinois, known for their award-winning chainsaw carvings.

Chris and Brianne arrived in Dundee on November 7, equipped with chainsaws, carving tools, scaffolding, and an eagerness to begin. Inspired by the charm of the Fox River Valley the artists began their work. Over several days, the sculpture came to life: a large fox, a smaller fox reading, books, the library’s name and logo, a hidden cubby, and the word “READ” boldly carved into the wood.

July 16 2024, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) presented the Fox River Valley Public Library System with one million dollars in federal funding he secured through bipartisan legislation to help upgrade its facilities at the East Dundee Public Library building. The renovation will bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while also making general site improvements.

“All public buildings, especially places as important as community libraries, should be fully accessible to all members of the public,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “The funding I secured will make that a reality for the Fox River Valley Public Library in East Dundee, and these improvements will bring all the members of the community together.”

May 2025 - The Fox River Valley Public Library District’s Public Relations team was recognized with a 2025 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Award from the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) in the category of Crisis Communication Plan.

The Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards are presented annually to acknowledge excellence in government communications across local, state, federal, tribal, and military agencies. This prestigious program honors outstanding communication efforts produced or implemented during the previous calendar year, with entries evaluated by expert judges from across the country.

The Fox River Valley Public Library’s recognition highlights the team’s thoughtful, strategic, and effective communication planning during times of uncertainty.

“It’s an incredible honor to have our work recognized on a national level. Our team puts so much heart, thought, and dedication into communicating with our community—and this award is a reflection of that commitment,” said Corinne Vargas, Public Relations & Outreach Manager. 

This national award underscores the Library’s continued commitment to clear, timely, and transparent communication with the public it serves.