Mission & History

Mission Statement​

Markham Public Library provides a variety of materials to support the recreational, informational, educational, and cultural needs of the community. Providing current and popular materials to support a life-long commitment of independent learning.


The library had its beginnings as a small village library in the early 1960s. Largely through the efforts of volunteers Ruth Anderson and Mary E. Oglesby (both of whom the library is partially named after) and with the help of other women they collected over 5,000 books and persuaded the Markham Park Commission to provide space for a library. Thus in 1967 the Markham Public Library was established.

The grand opening of the current building was celebrated on March 8, 2008, the event was attended by Mayor of Markham David Webb Jr., and other dignitaries to celebrate the occasion.

History

In January 2001 the library’s name was changed again, to Bradford Anderson Oglesby Public Library in honor of the former Library Board President Ms. Dorothy Bradford and the two volunteers.

On June 23, 2006 marked the date of the ground-breaking for the construction of a new building for the library. The library was temporarily relocated to a section in the old McClurg School Building while the old building was demolished and the new one built.


The library was first located in the newly constructed Roesner Park Field House, which is now the Harold Murphy Recreational Center. The library was then afterwards relocated to the Canterbury Shopping Center. In 1980 the library was again relocated this time to a former church building (Christ Community Church), at the northwest corner of Kedzie and 167th Street. The building was purchased by the library in October l979 and opened as the new Markham Public Library in  l980.

The library is currently a member of RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System) formerly know as the Metropolitan Library System

The bookmobile was acquired July 2009 and began providing mobile library services throughout the Markham and Posen area.