The Cherry Valley Public Library District began as a village library on April 19, 1977 when seven persons were elected to serve as library trustees. The first building to house the library was Fisher's former store at 209 E. State Street, Cherry Valley.

In 1978 the library trustees hired a librarian and applied for membership in the Northern Illinois Library System. By July 1979 there were 4,000 books on the shelves and 351 cardholders (167 adults and 184 children).

In 1980, Revenue Sharing Grants were approved by both the Cherry Valley Village Board and the Cherry Valley Township Board and many books and materials were purchased. A Village Board grant of $20,000 was earmarked for purchase of a new library building. The library moved across the street to 202 E. State Street, the former Ekedahl Tool Building, and remained there for 9 years.

In 1983, a referendum was passed creating the Cherry Valley Public Library District, thus increasing the size of the population served from 1,000 to 10,955 (1990 census). A new, larger library building was needed. Voters passed a referendum in April 1988 to build a new library building. The library moved to 755 E. State Street, its current location, in November 1989.

The 13,300 square foot building now contains a collection of 63,508 print and audio-visual items, 162 subscrptions, 11,845 ebooks and 11 reference databases. The library serves a population of 20,000, and is open 62 hours per week (7 days a week Sept.-June).