The St. Joseph Township – Swearingen Memorial Library is more than just a repository of books; it is a vibrant community center that has been serving the residents of St. Joseph, Illinois, for nearly a century. With a rich history, diverse collections, and a commitment to meeting the needs of its patrons, the library continues to be a cornerstone of the community.
“What does any library collection look like? It looks like the items its community wants,” says Susan McKinney, Librarian at the St. Joseph Township – Swearingen Memorial Library.
The library boasts over 30,000 physical items, ranging from fiction and non-fiction to large print books, mysteries, romances, science fiction/fantasy, youth chapter books, children’s picture books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, music CDs, and magazines.
In addition to its physical collection, the library offers access to two e-resource consortia: the Digital Library in Illinois (DLIL) hosted by Overdrive (commonly known as Libby) and CloudLibrary.
Patrons can also utilize Mango Languages, an online platform for language learning that uses native speakers and advanced technology to help users perfect their pronunciation. Another digital offering is Biblio+, a streaming video service with educational content as well as movies and TV series from Hallmark and BBC.
The library’s membership in the Illinois Heartland Library System SHARE online catalog significantly expands its offerings. “If we don’t have something, we can place a hold on the item at another library,” McKinney explains. The system includes over 400 libraries across southern Illinois. For rarer items not available locally, the library can request materials through OCLC from other libraries across the state or even nationwide.
The library’s roots trace back to 1929 when it was founded by volunteers from the St. Joseph Women’s Club in a local beauty shop. Members of the St. Joseph Women’s Club continued to volunteer their time to staff the library.
It later moved to St. Joseph High School before settling into its current location at 201 N. Third Street in 1956, thanks to a donation from Mrs. Maude Davis in honor of her parents. The building was named Swearingen Memorial Library and remains on this property per Mrs. Davis’s trust.
Over the years, the library has grown significantly. In 1973, a referendum established a tax base for funding, leading to the hiring of professional staff and the creation of an elected Library Board of Directors. A state grant in 1988 allowed for an expansion of the building, reopening in February 1989 with its current layout.
Programs for All Ages
The library offers programming that caters to all demographics:
- Baby Music Time in partnership with Crisis Nursery
- Senior Citizens Bingo and Adult Coloring sessions
- Story Time from September to March
- Author Talks including an upcoming visit from Kent Brown, author of 100 Things Illinois Fans Should Know or Do Before They Die (April 14 at 6 p.m.)
- UI Extension workshops for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Community events such as I-Cash with the State Treasurer’s office, voter education through the League of Women Voters, and town hall meetings including a visit from Representative Adam Niemerg’s staff on Tuesday, April 15th from 9:30–10:30 a.m.
The library’s mission statement reflects its dedication: “The objective of the St. Joseph Township – Swearingen Memorial Library is to provide for the informational, cultural, and educational needs of the residents of St. Joseph Township through the selection, organization, and promotion of as wide a range of materials as possible.”
As a public institution, the library is funded by state and local sources. McKinney acknowledged the financial strain caused by recent minimum wage increases, which were difficult for smaller libraries to absorb. She also expressed hope that state officials would continue to support libraries should federal funding decrease.
Still, community backing remains strong.
“We have a very supportive community,” McKinney said. Our community reaches out and gives us support for the summer reading program as well as at other times. The elected Library Board is very much an example of the community being interested in making the library the best it can be.”
From its humble beginnings in 1929 to its modern role as a hub for digital resources and community engagement, the St. Joseph Township – Swearingen Memorial Library exemplifies how libraries can evolve while staying true to their core mission: serving their communities with knowledge and connection.
For those interested in supporting the library, whether through donations, volunteering, or programming, the library encourages reaching out to staff or Library Board members to learn how to get involved.
