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Hope Welty Public Library
Hope Welty Public Library
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  • Photo Gallery
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    • New Books for January
  • Board Meeting Minutes
  • Board Meeting Minutes
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    • Home
    • UPCOMING EVENTS
    • Photo Gallery
      • photos
    • WHAT'S NEW
      • New Books for January
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Board Meeting Minutes
  • Home
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Photo Gallery
    • photos
  • WHAT'S NEW
    • New Books for January
  • Board Meeting Minutes
  • Board Meeting Minutes

Discover Hope Welty Public Library

SHARE

Share is the Library's catalog. Click here to browse our holdings.

Libby App

EBooks are available though Libby.  Download the app here.  Your library card number is your user ID and your password is the last four digits of the same.

Discover Hope Welty Public Library Library

Library Collections

Explore our extensive collection of books in a wide range of subjects. Discover new authors and topics.

We also offer  E Books, Audio Books and DVD'S.  If you don't find what you are looking for here, we can always request it from another library. 

Library Spaces

 We have  a Public Meeting Room  available for rent. 

Library Technology

 We have  Laptops for public use.   We  also offer fax and copy service.

 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Library Programs

Participate in one of our many programs and events. We offer : Preschool Storytime, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Book Club monthly, Summer Reading . 

Library Staff

Meet our friendly and knowledgeable staff members, who are always ready to assist you with your  library needs .   Library Director: Shari Rawlings / I have been working at Hope Welty Public Library for 19 Years. My favorite book  is Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Circulation Clerk: Tina Henderson / She has been working at Hope Welty Public Library for 5 Years. Her favorite book is Piece by Piece.   Circulation Clerk : Michelle West / Our new employee. Her favorite  author is Hope Holloway.

Welcome to Hope Welty Public Library Library

Our Mission

The mission of the Hope Welty Public Library is to provide educational, informational, cultural,and recreational resources and services to all ages of people in the Hope Welty Public Library. The library will provide access to the universe of information, and especially that information which is of immediate relevance and interest to the community it serves. The library seeks to accomplish its mission through prudent management and development of its resources, and by providing access to materials and services to meet the present and future needs of the community it serves. In this effort, the Hope Welty Public Library cooperates with other libraries, and with other educational, and governmental institutions. Special emphasis is placed on current popular materials. The library serves as a learning center and educational center for all residents of the community.

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We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.

Hope Welty Public Library

100 S. Madison Cerro Gordo, Illinois 61818, United States

217-763-5001

Hours

Mon

03:00 pm – 06:00 pm

Tue

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Wed

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Thu

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Fri

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Sat

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sun

Closed

Hello

Meet the Board of Trustees

  1.  Mary Hissong / President    2027
  2. Janice Lonnon/ Vice President 2027
  3. Lyn Coleman / Trustee            2025
  4. Linda Martin / Treasurer         2025
  5. Brenda Hart / Trustee              2027
  6. Lisa Forbes / Trustee                2029
  7. Mary Webb / Secretary            2029

Find out more

Anti-Censorship Policy

 The Hope  Welty Public Library is committed to providing free and open access to information , ideas, and expressions of all perspectives. Intellectual freedom is essential to the democratic principles of our society and we recognize the inherent authority of the library to preserve and make available all expressions of knowledge and creativity. We also understand that censorship, the suppression of ideas or information,undermines these principles and ultimately harms our community. The library endeavors to build a collection representing varying points of view. The choice of library materials of children and adolescents rests with their parents or legal guardians. While a person may reject materials for himself or herself and for his or her children, he or she cannot exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others. The library supports intellectual freedom and has adopted the following statements as policy: ALA Freedom to Read Statement, ALA Library Bill of Rights, and the Freedom to View statement of the American Film and Video Association. To that end : The library will not remove or restrict access to any materials in our collection based on personal, political, or religious beliefs,or on the grounds that the content is controversial or offensive to some. The library does not endorse or promote the ideas,opinions,or viewpoints expressed in any materials in our collection. Rather, we believe that our patrons have the right to access a diversity of perspectives and to form their own opinions based on their own critical analysis. The library will resist any attempt to censor or restrict access to our collection, whether it comes from individuals or organizations within or outside of the library. We uphold the American Library Association's Bill of Rights, which states that Libraries should challenge censorship  in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment." The library board and staff reserve the right to place materials in the age section we deem appropriate based on publisher recommendations, professional judgement, and consideration of age appropriateness of the content, as well as the potential interest and needs of our patrons. If patrons object to specific materials in our collection, we encourage them to express their concerns and engage in respectful dialogue with library staff. We will provide access to alternative materials that may address similar topics or themes. Formal requests for reconsideration my be made only by registered patrons, and shall be made in writing and given to the library director for a written response. Appeals are directed to the Board for final decision. The library believes that intellectual freedom is a fundamental right of all individuals and that access to information is essential to the functioning of a democratic society. We affirm our commitment to upholding these values and to serving the needs of our diverse community.  

         SUPPORT FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

          Selection & Reconsideration

        Intelletual freedom is the right of library users to read, seek information,and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the library profession; it promotes access to information and guides the defense against censorship.  The Freedom to Read Statement asserts, The Freedom to read is essential to our democracy. " In a democratic society, in dividuals must be sufficiently  knowledgeable to make informed decisions. Libraries provide their users with the necessary information through a wide selection of materials from varying points of view. It is essential that  library resources remain free to use for all, regardless of age. The Library Bill of Rights and its interpretation aly out rationales for these principles of intellectual freedom. Incorporating the tenets of intellectual freedom foundation documents ( such as the First Amendment, the Library Bill of Rights , and the Freedom to Read Statement) into the selection policy provides support for intellectual freedom as a philosophy underlying the policy. Strong selection policies include a statement of support for intellectual freedom. The library provides an impartial environment in which indivduals and their interest are brought together with the universe of ideas and information spanning the spectrum of knowledge and opinions. The library board affirms the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to View, and Freedom to Read policy statements in support of acquiring and managing collections.         Adopted  9/ 11/ 2023


June Meeting Minutes

Hello

May 12 ,2025 Agenda

Call to Order >

roll call

Public Forum>

Minutes of the Last Meeting>

Treasurer's Report>

Director's Report >

New Business>   

 salaries for next FY

 Old Busines 

     

   

  Other Information  &  Business

    Personnel

    Legal Information

   Closed Session

 Next Meeting Date

 May  12,2025  at 3:30 pm

 

 


      

    

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Copyright © 2025 Hope Welty Public Library - All Rights Reserved.

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