Because the Effingham Public Library is funded by city taxpayers, library cards are available at no additional charge to adult and child residents as well as business owners either living and/or owning property within the city limits of Effingham. For those who physically can’t visit the library, the library offers an outreach card application that will enable those qualifying to receive books once a month.
We will need a photo ID and proof of your address or the tax bill for the property within the city limits when you fill out your library card application.
A non-resident card is available for people who live outside of the Effingham city limits. The fee is different for every non-resident as it is based on your property tax bill or your monthly rent. The fee is applied annually and covers every person living in the household.
All items from the Effingham Public Library are available for 14 days. However, check-out periods may differ for materials obtained from other libraries.
Each month, we host a variety of events for children, teens, and tweens as well as adults and families.
If you have any questions about our programs or ideas for future programs, please contact us at 217-342-2464.
We have developed a social story to help you and your family prepare for a visit to the library. There are certainly a lot of different sounds and experiences, so preparing for the visit ahead of time might make the experience even more enjoyable. Our story is also available in Spanish.
We are always looking for volunteers for various projects at the library. Please feel free to check out our volunteer policy and complete a volunteer application and turn it in at the Check-Out desk. We will contact you regarding volunteer opportunities.
Effingham Public Library is pleased to showcase art and photography in its Art Gallery and north Art Wall. Artists interested in sharing their work can fill out this application and return it to Alvin Ealy, Assistant Director, for consideration.
To see our past featured artists, head over to http://www.effinghamlibrary.org/category/featured-artists/
We can accept gifts of cash, check, and stocks. You can also donate online using Stripe. We also welcome donations in honor of a loved one or the donation of items for our collection and book sale.
Another option is planned giving. Planned gifts are donations to the Effingham Public Library’s Endowment Fund through an individual’s financial and estate plans. These gifts can help support the library’s long-term mission of providing public library service to Effingham residents. A planned gift can also benefit the donor through tax benefits. One of the simplest and most popular ways to make a planned gift is to give through your will or trust. You can make a bequest to the Effingham Public Library’s Endowment Fund (which is held by the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation) by adding the following language to your will: “I bequeath (dollar amount, percentage of residue of estate or description of property) to the Effingham County Community Foundation, a non-for-profit charitable organization located in Effingham, Illinois, to benefit the Effingham Public Library Endowment Fund.” Every individual’s financial situation is unique, so we recommend that you consult an attorney or financial adviser in planning a gift to the Effingham Public Library.
If you would like to discuss a planned gift to the Effingham Public Library, please write, call, or e-mail (all inquiries are held in strict confidence): Effingham Public Library, Amanda McKay, Library Director 200 N. 3rd St. Effingham, Illinois 62401 217-342-2464, ext. 400 Email Amanda
Memorials are a great way to celebrate a special event or remember a loved one.
- Remember the life of a loved one or friend…
- Celebrate a special event like a birthday or anniversary…
- Acknowledge an achievement or graduation…
- Show appreciation to a person or group deserving special thanks…
By giving a gift to the Effingham Public Library! Your gift of a book or donation will honor the special people in your life and help the library grow as well. For a relatively small sum of money, you can provide an enduring tribute that will bring pleasure to many. Your memorial donation is tax-deductible and is an invaluable way of supplementing and enhancing the library’s collection. You may specify a subject area or you can let the library’s staff select a book in an area of need for the library. You can request a gift plate for the book and a card will be sent to the person who is being memorialized. Give a book(s) by printing and mailing our memorial form along with your gift. Thank you for your gift to the Effingham Public Library!
The library is grateful for gifts, and its collection has been enriched greatly by many fine donations of books, DVDs, and audiobooks. Gifts of printed and manuscript materials on the history of the community and the region are especially welcome. The library makes an effort to use all gift material which it does not add to its own collection to the very best advantage. If at all suitable, it is offered to other libraries or institutions as gifts or exchanges. Otherwise it will be offered to the public in the library’s book sale. Proceeds are used to purchase new materials for the library. Materials accepted:
- Books in good condition – hardcover or paperback, fiction or non-fiction, adult or children’s
- Books published in the last 5 years (library). The Book Sale accepts some older volumes.
- Recent best sellers
- Classic titles in excellent condition
- Audio cassettes, compact discs, videos, or DVDs in working condition
~Sorry encyclopedias, magazines, and items in poor condition cannot be accepted.~
All donations are tax deductible. A receipt is available upon request, but please note that the library staff cannot assess the value of your gift. Thank you for your gift to the library!