Pontiac Public Library

Constructed in 1923, the building at 211 East Madison Street, Pontiac, Illinois was originally designed to house the Abbott Motor Company. In 1927 the building had become Pontiac Auto Supply, a Goodrich dealership. A variety of automobile related businesses were housed in the building through the years. This was facilitated by the existence of an industrial elevator that could transport automobiles to the upper floor of the building.

Eventually, the building became a Sears Roebuck department store. This was the final commercial use of the building before purchase by the Pontiac Public Library. In the early 1990’s, the Pontiac Public Library purchased the building and began a $750,000 renovation project to turn the brick and concrete structure into a public library.

The Pontiac Public Library was opened in November 1995 in the first floor of the building. Since that time Heartland Community College has leased approximately 60% of the second floor of the building for a Pontiac extension campus. For 9 years Livingston County leased the remaining portion of the second floor for office space. In December 2004 Livingston County moved out of their location freeing this space for expansion of the public library.