Architecturally, this is a very neat building. It it is open, go inside and check out the very neat rotunda room.

From the 100th Anniversary of the Dominy Library brochure in 2005:

DOMINY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Established 1905

Dominy Memorial Library, termed “A People’s University in Fairbury”, was dedicated on June 13, 1905.

In May of 1904, Mrs. L. B. Dominy submitted to the Fairbury City Council the offer to construct a brick or stone building at the cost of $10,000 - $12,000, heated and suitably furnished for a public library. She would also suitably stock the library with books of a value of $1,500 - $2,000, catalogued and ready for use. Once completed, the library would be donated to the City of Fairbury or to a Board of Trustees, for a free public library. In return, she asked only that she be allowed to name the library and that she be allowed to choose the board of directors who would establish the rules and regulations which shall govern the said library. Also, that the City of Fairbury would forever maintain the building as a free public library.

Dominy Memorial Library was designed by Bloomington architect Paul O. Moratz and constructed by the spring of 1905. The new “Board of Trustees of Dominy Memorial Library” had, by then, established the By Laws and Rules and Regulations of the new library. Miss Goldanna Cook was hired as librarian at a sum of $25.00 per month and Adam Hoker was hired, at $15.00 per month, as janitor. In January of 1907, Mrs. Dominy and her daughters had the basement of the library decorated and furnished with 100 folding chairs and 24 single chairs so the larger room could be used as a lecture room and the smaller room for committee and social meetings. Thus, the library was complete.

According to the Rules and Regulations, established by the Library Board in 1905, only two books may be taken out of the library on one card, only one of which shall be fiction. The book may be kept for two weeks unless it is a recent purchase and is labeled a “seven-day book.” A fine of three cents a day shall be paid on each volume that is not returned according to the provisions agreed upon. (The fine on an overdue book remained three cents until 1990.)

Books were sterilized or sometimes destroyed because of the diseases and epidemics that were common in those times.

In 1951 a terrible flood caused extensive damage to the lower level of the library. The Fairbury Woman’s Club sponsored a drive to raise $2,000 to repair and remodel the floors and walls of the basement rooms. Businesses and residents were solicited to contribute to the project. An Open House was held to celebrate the newly remodeled area.

Dominy Memorial Library added the “Talking Books Program” in 1974. One thousand books became available to the blind or visually impaired. Record players and cassette machines for the books could also be checked out free of charge. The books were also available from the library by mail.

By 1981 extensive work was needed to repair and upgrade the library. It was decided to do the work in phases. Phase 1 would involve basic structural reinforcement of the main level floor and basement ceiling. The plumbing was also improved at that time. The second phase involved the creation of a Children’s Room in the basement along with remodeling the Public Room and adding a lounge and kitchenette. An Illinois History Room was also created at that time, along with a genealogy collection. The project was completed in 1982.

The “Outreach Program” was added in 1985. Library representatives visited local organizations and nursing homes to present informative programs. Delivery of books to homebound residents was also made available.

Two computers were purchased in 1987, one for children and one for adult use. The Marjorie Fulton Computer Center was created with funds from the Marjorie Fulton estate. Later that year, Dominy Memorial Library was recognized, from a group of 600, as one of the thirty most outstanding public libraries in Illinois.

Over the years, Dominy Memorial Library has remained an important fixture to the city of Fairbury and its residents. The interior was once again remodeled in 1997 and a new roof, including the domed area, was added in 2004. The library has loaned out, not only books, but also records, cassettes, art prints, sculptures, films, videos, teaching aids and even Polaroid cameras. The Children’s Program has grown and expanded along with the computer center.

Today the library houses more than 20,000 books and 15 periodicals along with 5 different newspapers. The three public access computers have high-speed internet access and are widely used by community members and visitors to the Fairbury area.

In the future, Dominy Memorial Library would like to expand. The lot to the east of the building is now available for development. Hopefully the library will soon become handicap accessible and other improvements will bring it further into the twenty first century.