ROCHELLE — For anyone looking to get lost in the written word of Rochelle’s history, the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library is the place to go.
On Sunday, the library board and staff held an open house, showing off the new space dedicated to the bound Rochelle News-Leader books that have been moved from the Flagg Township Museum.
“The library board and staff would like to thank Jan and the museum board and staff, John Shank, Jennifer Simmons and the staff of the Rochelle News-Leader and Tom McDermott for working as a community team and pulling this project together,” library director Sarah Flanagan said.
Recently, the library purchased seven cabinets. In September, the bound newspaper books were moved from the museum — copies dating 1886 to 1969 — and books from the Rochelle News-Leader office dated 1970 to 2019 — to the library. 
“We moved the books into the library and then dusted them and put them in the cabinets by years. They will be housed in our downstairs periodical room,” Flanagan said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other local organizations and to preserve these priceless pieces of Rochelle history.”

The bound newspaper books can by viewed by scheduling an appointment. Call Flanagan at the library at 815-562-3431 to set up an appointment.
“Our cabinets are maintaining these irreplaceable newspapers by keeping them safe in a climate controlled safe environment,” Flanagan said.
Along with the bound copies, the library has newspapers on microfilm that can be viewed at any time the library is open. Library hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We were running out of storage space and we didn’t have the type of protective environment the library can provide,” Rochelle News-Leader publisher John Shank said. “We want the region’s history preserved and available to the public so this is a great partnership.”