Odin Community Library

By Joyce Jackson

The Centralia Regional Library District was awarded LSTA Grant funds from Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office through the Illinois State Library in October, 2003. The grant project was to establish an automated branch library in the Village of Odin in order to demonstrate library service to the citizens of Odin Township and Sandoval and Odin High School Districts in Carrigan Township in hopes of annexing them into the library district. The referendum was held in March, 2004. On Election Day, the referendums passed for annexing the Village of Odin, their school district and township, and the Sandoval High School District in Carrigan Township.

The Odin Community Library has been a vital part of this community. Odin Renewal/Development Council in Odin raised money to purchase an old store for $18,000.00 to be used for a permanent library facility in Odin. The Library Board of Trustees helped pay for the renovations to the building out of library funds. A group of volunteers worked hard to renovate the building. The front part of the building now houses our branch library and the back part of the building has a community room. The group made one room into an Odin History Room with items which were donated for everyone to view. The History Room is adjacent to the library so patrons have access to it when the library is open.