General news

The Lake Bluff Library will open at 12:00pm on Friday, April 19 due to a staff meeting. The Library will close at 5pm as normal. 

Lake Bluff Public Library is excited to announce a new service that demonstrates its commitment to access and the health and well-being of the community. The Library is now offering free high quality sustainable period products through a partnership with Aunt Flow. This initiative recognizes that access to menstrual products is not a luxury, but a basic necessity that should be readily available to all.

In June of 2023, the Library Board of Trustees approved a new Meeting Room Policy. Updates to the policy include greater clarity on usage of the Spruth Room, including more detailed definitions of for-profit use. The Library's internal procedures have been updated to reflect changes to the policy, which is fully in effect as of Wednesday, March 13, 2024. To learn more about booking a meeting room at the Library, please visit our Meeting Rooms page.

The Lake Bluff Library will remain closed on Tuesday, January 16 due to unsafe temperatures for staff and public. Technicians are onsite today to evaluate the HVAC unit. Both programs scheduled for today (Baby and Me and Afternoon Book Club) are cancelled.

Any updates will be shared on the Library website, Facebook, and Instagram. For information about 24/7 Library services, please visit our Explore menu. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Library has become aware of an issue affecting the catalog search bar on the Library website. When users attempt to search for materials, the page fails to load any results. The Library has contacted our software vendor for the online catalog for assistance in resolving this issue. While this problem persists, patrons can use a direct link to our catalog to search for materials. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have a resolution available shortly.

UPDATE (February 5, 2024): We are pleased to report that this issue has been resolved. Thank you for your patience. Should you experience any other issues with our website or your online account, please reach out to our Reference Desk.

The adult audio collection now includes Playaways! Playaways are pre-loaded audiobooks that are easy to use and give you the freedom to take your audiobook anywhere. No internet or Wi-Fi needed. Playaways are located next to the Adult Audiobook collection.

UPDATE 5/24: At 4:00pm, we were alerted that AT&T has removed our domain from their blocklist. These changes may take 24-48 hours to take effect, which means that this issue should be fully resolved by Friday, May 26 at 4:00pm. Please let us know if you continue to experience any difficulties contacting the Library.

We are excited to announce that the new drive-up book drop is officially open and accepting returns 24/7. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we waited for the new book drop to arrive.

How is the new book drop different than the old unit? 
The new model is a significant improvement in design and usability. The new book drop is more weather resistant, secure, and durable. It will also have reflective tape for improved nighttime visibility, as well as ADA compliant Braille signage. Ergonomic improvements to the carts will also make it easier and safer for staff to operate. It’s also 100% recyclable, so when this model reaches the end of its useful lifespan, it will not be disposed of in a landfill.

Lake Bluff Public Library received recognition as one of the nation’s Star Libraries in the 2022 Library Journal Index of Public Library Service, as announced by Library Journal earlier this December.

The Library Journal Index of Public Library Service ranks libraries on a variety of metrics, including circulation, program attendance, Wi-Fi usage, and library visits. Of the more than 5,300 libraries eligible for this award in 2022, only 258 received a star ranking. The Lake Bluff Public Library received four stars, ranking it as one of the top 20 libraries nationwide in its budget category. This is the first time that the Library has earned this recognition in the fifteen years of the award.