Celebrating 70 Years of the Tinley Park Public Library
Although 2026 marks the library’s “official” 70th anniversary (1956), the story of public library service in Tinley Park stretches back to the early 1900s, rooted in community initiative and a passion for learning.
The first known public library in Tinley Park operated briefly around 1913–1915. Located in a storefront office owned by Christian Andres, Sr., at 17344 Oak Park Avenue, this early effort was made possible by the fundraising work of the Tinley Park Dramatic Club under Mrs. Mary Goss Fulton, a local teacher and later principal. Without sustained funding, however, the library was short-lived but remains a testament to early community commitment to literacy.
A second public library opened in 1937 through the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA), housed in the Tinley Park School (later Central Middle School) at 17248 67th Avenue. This library served the community for a time before transitioning into a school library.
The Birth of Today’s Library – 1956
The foundation of the current public library began in 1956 when members of the Tinley Park Women’s Club, originally led by Mrs. Wallace B. Combs, launched a campaign to create a permanent public library for a rapidly growing village. Between 1940 and the mid-1950s, Tinley Park’s population more than tripled, strengthening the need for a dedicated library space.
On July 28, 1956, the first community library was dedicated in a small temporary building—about the size of a one-car garage—provided by George Hartmann on land donated by the Tinley Park Development Company at 6871 171st Street.
In 1957, the Friends of the Library formed to support operations.
Two years later, a larger permanent building replaced the temporary facility. Staffed entirely by volunteers and funded through public donations, the 1959 library offered seating for just 18 patrons.
Growth and Expansion
In 1966, the library joined the Suburban Library System (SLS)—later the Metropolitan Library System (MLS)—enabling resource sharing with other area libraries. As part of the evolution of regional systems, five systems merged in 2011 to form the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), serving approximately 1,300 library organizations across northern Illinois. The library also participates in the System Wide Automated Network (SWAN), allowing Tinley Park and Orland Hills residents to borrow and access collections throughout a broad regional consortium.
A modern 25,000-square-foot facility was constructed at 17101 71st Avenue and dedicated in 1974. An expanded lower-level children’s area was added in 1982.
Current Facility and Recent Renovations
In 2004, the library moved to its current address at 7851 Timber Drive. Since then, the facility has continued to evolve: a first-floor refresh in 2017, followed by a $5.8 million renovation in 2025 that updated finishes and fixtures in Youth & Teen Services, added a first-floor single-occupancy restroom, upgraded all public restrooms, and introduced a drive-up service window.
Governance and Service Today
The Library is governed by an elected, 7-member Board of Trustees that oversees operations and funds in accordance with the Illinois Local Library Act (75 ILCS 5). The library serves not only residents of Tinley Park, but also provides library services under a contract with the Orland Hills Public Library District. For budgeting and tax levy purposes, the Library’s financials are included in the Village’s overall budget.
Today, the library continues its mission of connecting people to resources, services, experiences, and reliable information while reflecting the values and growth of the community it serves.