Since the late 1800’s, citizens worked to provide Waterloo, Illinois, with a public library as a cultural center. In 1892, Henry and Mary Talbott donated their personal collection of more than 3,000 books and periodicals to the city for a public library. At a special City Council meeting on December 13, 1892, Trustee Mr. Hardy explained the proposal, and after discussion that included concern about increased city expenses, the vote ended in a tie until Mayor Gauen cast the deciding vote to accept the gift and establish a city library. The first library, organized in 1892 and chartered in 1894, was housed in the August Siegel Building, with Ida Siegel as librarian. In 1909, Col. William R. Morrison left his residence at the corner of Library and Park Streets to the City of Waterloo in his will for use as a public library, and the library moved into the home in 1911, with future librarians living on the second floor until 1992. While in the Morrison home, the library suffered two fires: the first on November 25, 1930, possibly beginning in rafters under the roof of the east wing, causing the need for a new roof and for much of the third floor to be rebuilt or torn down; and the second on November 26, 1932, almost two years later, causing only minor water damage. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bode lived in the house during both fires while serving as librarians. City Council support continued, and in 1962 the council made Morrison-Talbott Library a tax-supported organization. In 1967, the library joined the Kaskaskia Library System, and in 1993 it joined the Lewis & Clark Library System. Today it is part of the Illinois Heartland Library System, with access to materials from more than 500 libraries in Illinois and to additional materials throughout the United States. By the late 1970’s, it had become clear that more space was needed for library resources, and efforts to raise funds for a new building included two failed tax referendums. The Friends of the Morrison-Talbott Library was organized in 1990 to build interest and assist fundraising for a new facility. In 1993, the City of Waterloo sought to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by financing a new library facility, and in 1996 the library moved to its present location at 215 Park Street. Beginning with a collection of 3,296 items, by 2017 the library housed more than 41,000 items and had access to more than 40,000 additional items through electronic resources, while offering print and non-print materials and programs for people of all ages seeking entertainment and education.