The Community and The Library

The Forsyth Public Library was established in 1983 under the Village Library Act. It is supported and maintained by the Village of Forsyth for the benefit of the 2,434 village residents who are its primary constituents. The library is governed by a three member Library Commission consisting of the Mayor and two Village Trustees. Library policies are determined by a six member citizen group known as the Forsyth Public Library Advisory Committee. The library staff consists of six permanent part-time staff members, a children’s librarian, and a full-time library director. Due to its close geographic proximity to the metro-Decatur area and to several bordering public library districts, the library is frequently used by non-resident patrons who, under the reciprocal borrowing agreement established by the Rolling Prairie Library System, are able to use their home library cards to charge materials. Under the same agreement, Forsyth residents are also able to borrow from neighboring libraries. Forsyth Public Library participates extensively in interlibrary loan, “holds” and OCLC ILL; these sevices are extended to all patrons despite their home library locations and without cost to them. These services greatly expand the range of materials that can be made available to library patrons, though the responsibility for providing most materials to patrons remains a local one.

The Forsyth Public Library also serves as the primary source of library materials for more than 300 Forsyth Grade School students, K-3, whose regular weekly visits are an integral part of the grade school curriculum and an important aspect of public library service in the Forsyth community.

The Village of Forsyth consists of a central corridor of prosperous commercial, retail and professional office development surrounded by residential and agricultural areas. This blend of economies has resulted in a sound fiscal base for the support of village services and amenities, including the library, and a comfortable standard of living for village residents. Though many who live in Forsyth commute to Decatur and other metropolitan areas to work, residents maintain a strong close-knit, family-oriented community . The growing population includes a significantly expanding and diverse ethnic population, a considerable number of retirees, and families whose children range in from very young to adolescent.The library shares building space with the village maintained Community Room and Conference Room which increases its visibility in the community and offers excellent opportunities for cooperative programming and on-site activities. Along with traditional library services and programs, the library offers photocopying, fax, and Internet access, including wi-fi, and a coffee bar.