Welcome to the Stacks!

The Stacks... Sounds ominous, doesn't it? No worries. The Stacks refer to our shelves containing physical materials in our collection.

Our stacks are closed, unlike public libraries. Despite this, they are still accessible to the public. Our library volunteers retrieve books and other materials for patrons upon request. It is also necessary to schedule an appointment to view materials in person. 

Now for the fun stuff. Our collection includes local histories of McHenry County, ranging from books to magazines to newspapers, photos to maps, obituaries to tax records. Ever wondered what your high school's past graduations and reunions were like? Our School Files contain pre-1900 materials, including programs and photos. Ever wondered what Marengo High School looked like in 1908? Well, we have a newspaper clipping with an image of the school that year!

Or...

How about peeking inside an old contractor's business ledger? What about seeing E. D. Patrick's blueprints? 

Having realized that we have many fascinating pieces of history in our stacks, you may be curious to know what else we do with those pieces. We are working hard to make more material available digitally. Our Research Library page has links to newspapers, obituaries, Heritage Farms, and our "Life Before" series. And, while we can't make everything available online for the public, we are adding to our online file index. This way, you can determine what information we likely have before making an appointment or requesting a search.

(MCHS & Museum)

Published by: Rachel Seidner, Research Librarian