Woodstock Public Library

The Rural Woodstock Public Library District serves residents who live outside the Woodstock City limits, but within the Woodstock Community School District 200 boundaries. http://www.ruralwoodstocklibrary.com (will open in new window)

What is the relationship between the City of Woodstock Public Library and the Rural Woodstock Public Library District?
The City of Woodstock Public Library is governed by the City of Woodstock Library Board which oversees the library’s budget and policies due to tax support from citizens within the City limits. The Rural Woodstock Public Library District Board has two main functions: (1) to negotiate a contract for library services and (2) to serve as an advisory board to the City of Woodstock Library Board.

The Rural Woodstock Public Library District Board of Trustees meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. There are seven members who are elected for six-year terms. Trustees must reside within the borders of the  Rural District. The meetings are held in the Board Room of the  Library and are open to the public.

Library Cards for Rural Woodstock Public Library Residents
1) A rural basic service library card is available for District residents that includes restricted library services at no charge. These services include checking out a total of  three (3) items per person at any one time and accessing the Internet on library computers. Basic cards also give patrons the ability to place holds on Woodstock Public Library materials only,  and search research databases that require a library card for access. Any rural resident 5 years of age or older may have his or her own library card.

 2) A rural full service library card is available by paying a user fee of $47 per household per year. Additional services that are available with this fee include increasing the borrowing limit to 50 items, the same limit enjoyed by City residents, the ability to place holds on library materials owned by other nearby libraries, and request for inter-library loans from any library in the U.S. Only full-user cardholders may use their Woodstock library card at other Illinois libraries.

Scholarships For Rural District Residents
Scholarships are available at the Woodstock Public Library for residents of the Rural Woodstock Public Library District whose income would qualify them for either free or reduced price meals with the school district. These scholarships are used to pay for part of the $47 per household per year user fee required for rural residents to obtain full-service library cards.

Households eligible for free meals through School District 200 receive a scholarship to pay for all but $5.00 of the $47 fee. Scholarships are available for all households meeting these requirements even if they do not have children in School District 200. The household income level to qualify varies based upon household size. Residents who think they may qualify can find out details by calling the Library (815) 338-0542 or by visiting at 414 W. Judd Street, Woodstock.

Wonder Lake Book Return
Wonder Lake residents can return Woodstock Public Library books at the Thompson Road branch of the Wonder Lake State Bank, at 3316 Thompson Road, Wonder Lake.

Additional Information for Rural Woodstock Public Library District Citizens The “brick and mortar” costs of the library, as well as operational costs, are paid entirely by the City residents through taxes.  The contract negotiated between the City and Rural Boards covers library services only. The Rural District currently holds no equity in the building, furnishings, or collections of the Woodstock Public Library.