Library History Timeline: 1980-1989

In 1981...
    Photograph of the new Apple II computer in the Park Ridge Public Library Children's Department circa 1981
  • The Children's Department held a party to unveil its new "Storytime Quilt." The quilt, composed of 42 squares made by mothers of children who attended fall sessions of Pre-School Story Time and staff members, remains on permanent display in the Library's downstairs meeting room.
  • The Friends of the Library donated an Apple II computer, as seen on the right, to the Children's department making Park Ridge Public Library the first public library in the library system to offer a personal computer for public use.
In 1982...
  • The Library became automated.
  • In March 1982, the Library began to switch to an automated circulation control system.
  • The system combined 17 other northern suburban libraries in a consortium to be known as Cooperative Computer Services (CCS.)
  • Dr. William McCully assumed the post as head librarian in November 1982.
  • On December 12, 1982, the circulation staff began entering patron data on the new circulation system.
In 1985...
  • The Friends of the Library donated an IBM personal computer for patron use. It was the beginning of the computer lab located in the Reader Services Department.
In 1988...
  • The YA loft opened in January. YA books were previously shelved on the 2nd floor.
  • The Library underwent some interior renovation involving construction of office-area partitions.
  • Changes were made as a result of a library-space utilization study.
  • In November 1988, the Park Ridge Public Library observed a 75th anniversary with a piano concert on the Library's new Baldwin piano and a champagne reception.


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On to the 1990s