The Fremont Public Library, located at 1170 N. Midlothian Road in Mundelein, provides quality programs, classes, computers, and access to a wide variety of materials, from books to mobile hotspots.
The library provides a chance to connect with knowledgeable library staff, enjoy hands-on learning with craft kits for children, teens and adults, and meet with fellow book lovers through our in-person and online book discussions.
Our study rooms and meeting rooms are open, and we are offering a large array of in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs. Fremont cardholders may reserve one of two meeting rooms that hold up to 30 people for free.
Learn more about our services here on the website, or click on the chat link in the corner to speak with a librarian.
Come on in and stay a while!
The Drive-Up Window is available during regular library hours up until 5 minutes before closing.
In order to keep offering the high quality presentations that our patrons enjoy, the library will no longer be offering live hybrid (in-person/online) events as of June 1.
This is not a decision that we took lightly. We have been investigating ways to improve our events and remove the pain points such as:
There was one "pro": People like the ability to still see a program even if they no longer drive at night, or if they are "snow birds" who enjoy connecting with the library during the the winter months. Our plan to help these patrons:
If you would like to discuss this decision more, please contact Administration.
The Board of Trustees and the staff of the Fremont Public Library welcome you to your public library. We take pride in our current mission to Engage the Community, Inspire Creativity and Enrich Minds.
The Fremont Public Library District encompasses parts of Mundelein, Grayslake, Hawthorn Woods, Libertyville, Round Lake, Round Lake Park, and Wauconda. According to the 2020 Census, there are 38,634 residents in the district. To find out if you are one of our residents and how to get a library card, click here.
The idea for a library in Fremont Township was born on April 5, 1955, when the residents of Fremont Township voted to create a “Free Public Library”. On December 2, 1955, the Fremont Township Public Library opened for business in a rented storefront located at the corner of Lake Street and Park Avenue in the village of Mundelein with a collection of approximately 6,000 items. The library was open from 2 pm-5 pm, Monday through Saturday, and library service was provided by one librarian, Miriam Peaco, and a group of volunteers.
Since then the library has continued to grow. In 1972 the Fremont Public Library District was formed as an independent taxing body, making Fremont the first library in Illinois to convert from a township library to a district library. In 1986 a remodeling project increased the library building on Lake Street to 13,800 square feet. In 1998 voters approved construction of a new library facility on land donated by Town & Country Builders to the Village of Mundelein. The village then donated the land to the library district.
The current building on 1170 N. Midlothian Road opened its doors in 2001 but with limited hours as the voters did not approve an operating increase. However, through natural growth of the district and good stewardship of funds and tax dollars, the library was able to gradually open to regular operating hours, a knowledgeable and friendly staff that provides wonderful programs and helpful services to the community.
As we continue into the 21st Century, the library continues to adapt to changes in society. Helping the community get through recessions, pandemics, and rapid changes in technology through classes, services, programs and changes to the interior of the library space.
We added a new circulation desk and opened up a bigger Audio Visual area in 2011, remodeled the Youth Services department in 2015, and underwent a large-scale lighting project to change all the fixtures to be brighter and more economical in 2021. In 2023 we engaged in a huge project to expand into the "shell" space that was left unfinished as a place the library could eventually expand into "in about 20 years." Since it had been 22 years since we moved into the existing building it was time for an upgrade! Click here to view a slideshow of before and after pictures.
For more about the library's goals and future plans, please see our Strategic Direction 2022-2025
Illinois Libraries, especially district libraries like Fremont, rely on local property taxes for our income. Approximately 97% of our funding comes from the people who live in our district. The remaining 3% comes from investments, other types of local taxes, and a state grant. We do not receive any funding directly from the Federal Government. However, libraries of different types all over the country as well as regional and state library systems that help support your local public libraries could be drastically affected by the stopping of federal funds.
Read a statement from Alexi Giannoulias about the Executive Order and its imact on the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Statement on InclusivityAt the Fremont Public Library, we're building an engaged and inspired community where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and included.
The Fremont Public Library is a cornerstone of our community. The Library Board is committed to providing an environment where staff and the public feel welcome, respected and valued for their unique and diverse perspectives. To achieve these goals, we offer collections and programs that reflect our community and provide a place of belonging for all.
We celebrate and affirm the identities, experiences, and thoughts of our patrons and employees. We are dedicated to supporting and educating the community we serve regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education, beliefs, income, disability, or any other aspect of diversity. We recognize that equite and inclusivity are an ongoing journey, and we strive to listen to and learn from our community.
The Fremont Public Library acknowledges that we are on the ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Peoria, and other Indigenous Peoples. We honor the significance of these lands for all Indigenous peoples, past and present.
The two Wind SculpturesTM in front of the library were made by artist Lyman Whitaker. They were purchased in memory of longtime library supporters and former Board Trustees Sally LaMadeleine and Florence Patrick.
