The Schmaling Memorial Public Library District has been recognized by the Illinois State Historical Society as an Illinois Centennial Library District!

In November 1894, the Fulton Public Library leased a suite of upper rooms in what was know as the Allison Building in downtown Fulton (the building now houses Olivia's Restaurant).

The City of Fulton received $5000 from Andrew Carnegie to construct a new library building on land that was donated by Dr. Hannah Nichols Schmaling and her husband, Thomas. In October 1909, the new library building opened at the corner of what was then Cherry St. (10th Ave) and Bluff St. (5th St.), where it still stands today.

In 1974, the library underwent the transition from a city library to a district library and it was at that time that the name was changed from Fulton Public Library to Schmaling Memorial Public Library in honor of the Schmalings, who donated the land and were also staunch library supporters, even establishing an endowment which still benefits the library today.

This fall, the library as an organization celebrates 130 years of service, 115 years of which have been offered in our beautiful Carnegie library building. Here's to at least 130 more!