Ground was broken on June 10, 1902 for the construction of the Centralia Regional Library. This project was fully financed by Andrew Carnegie, all thanks to Thomas L. Joy and Dr. A.H. Rainey for securing a $20,000 loan from Carnegie ($5,000 more than Carnegie's initial offer).

The library was completed on November 23, 1903 and is 1 of the 106 original Carnegie Libraries in Illinois.

In 1936, a large fire broke out inside of the library and extensive repairs took place. This lead to a complete remodel of the Centralia building and by the 1970s, two two-story wings were added, along with new carpets, central air, better lighting, and much more. In 2013, the library would expand again with an addition two-story addition to the south side of the building.

Today, the Centralia Regional Library offers a variety of services and activities. They have many ebooks that can be accessed online with a current library card (it’s free!).

There is a kid’s activity area for little ones to explore, as well as a teen's room equipped with a chess board and air hockey table.

They have a lot of events monthly that are free to the public. To stay up to date on the events, visit their website: https://www.centralialibrary.org

If you don't feel like exploring the library, it sits on what used to be the city park back in the early 1900s and has walkable paths and benches to enjoy the beautiful weather!

Fishing poles can be rented out to fish at Raccoon Lake or Catfish Pond. (with a fishing license, available at Walmart)