The Indian Prairie Public Library District was established on July 1, 1988 by a voter approved merger of the Darien and Willowbrook libraries.  This merger was the first of its kind in Illinois; 85% of the voters approved the merger.  The Darien Woman's Club had started a volunteer library in 1978, and in 1979 Willowbrook residents secured a grant to start library service.  Both communities started tax-supported service in the early 1980s.  Both were housed in storefronts within one mile of each other.  Both had similar budgets and served similar populations.  In 1993, a $4.95 million referendum to construct a new library was approved.

In January 1996, the library moved into the new 43,400 square foot facility on a four-acre site in the center of the district.  The building project cost $5.8 million including site, furnishings, and equipment.  The referendum funded only construction.  No additional funding was provided for increased operating costs or increased collections.

Five years later, the library began making plans to complete the last of the unfinished space on the second floor.  Due to limited funding, the plans were reduced in scope.  Youth and Young Adult Services expanded into about half of the remaining space on the second floor and the meeting room size was doubled. 

In 2005, the second phase of the project was completed and the remaining unfinished space was developed into a new adult area for magazines and computers, including a computer lab.  Wireless service was installed throughout the library.