Public invited to groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday night for new library in Carthage

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The Carthage Public Library District Board of Trustees invites the public to the groundbreaking for a new library building at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the corner of First and Center. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own shovel or trowel to participate.

The library received bids from five general contractors and has signed an agreement with the lowest bidder, Laverdiere Construction, Inc. from Macomb for $3,646,186. Construction is expected to begin in April.

“We are thrilled to be moving forward with this project,” library director Amy Gee said in a press release. “We dared to dream of a new library building and submitted our grant application back in March 2020. We have been working toward this moment for over five years, and we are grateful for all of the generous donations that have helped to make it possible.”

The new library will be funded through a combination of sources including: grant funds provided from the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of the Secretary of State, using state funds; a bond referendum passed by voters in 2021; library savings; donation of the building site by Prairieland Investment Group; and monetary donations from the public.

Fundraising efforts will continue with a focus on raising money for new shelves and furnishings. Donations may be made to the Carthage District Library Foundation, 500 Wabash Avenue, Carthage, Ill., 62321 or online at https://www.carthagepubliclibrary.com/library-foundation.html.

For more information, call the library at 217-357-3232 or email cartlib@mtcnow.net.