At 100 years old, Ann Bagley of Geneva mainly relies on a wheelchair to get around. But that doesn’t stop her from enjoying a good book.

Through the Geneva Public Library’s home-delivery program, Bagley can often indulge her passion for reading.

“The library has been a godsend for me,” Bagley said during the library’s centennial celebration Sunday Sept. 21.

She was one of many who came to celebrate the library’s 100 years at its Second and James streets location.

“This is a big deal for us,” said Esther Barclay, Geneva Library Board president. “This building has evolved right along with our community. It’s such an integral part of this community.”

In April 1894, a referendum passed assuring the city of a public library. Construction began on the building in 1896, but due to a  lack of funding it stood with half-finished walls for several years.

Library officials got a $7,500 gift from Andrew Carnegie in January 1907. The building was completed in 1908, with additions in 1938, 1986 and 1998.

During the centennial event Sunday, attendees received birthday cake and lemonade, and got to view black-and-white photos and meeting minutes from the 1900s. In one 1908 meeting, library officials hired a janitor for $15 a month.

People also got a glimpse of a millennium quilt put together by library staff members and volunteers, with fabric donated from community members. The quilt will hang behind the checkout desk.

To also mark the library’s historic birthday, officials decided to locate a time capsule to be opened 50 years from now. The time capsule will be stored in a wooden bench that will sit inside the library and be opened in 2058.

Library officials opted to keep the time capsule above ground rather than burying it since they hope to eventually relocate to a bigger location.

Library officials are negotiating with Kane County for use of the property where Geneva’s old Sixth Street School building sits. The building, which houses the Regional Office of Education, would be torn down.

Contents of the time capsule are Mike Wallace’s book “The Way We Will Be 50 Years from Today,” pictures of the current library staff, an article from the Geneva Republican, a library card, and copies of People, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated magazines.

Party attendees got to sign a guest book that was also used Sept. 21, 1958, during the library’s 50-year anniversary.

Library Director Matt Teske said the facility serves more than 200,000 people a year and circulates nearly 600,000 items, including books, CDs and DVDs. The library’s Web site gets nearly 300,000 hits a year.

Longtime Geneva resident Merritt King, 89, recalled “the old days” when he would come to the library to study, but instead spent most of his time talking to the girls.

“I was hoping maybe I could get a date at the end of the year,” he said.

After several admonishings by the librarian to keep his voice down, King knew something needed to change.

“I decided to start talking softer,” he said.