Anamosa Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anamosa Library & Learning Center |
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| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1903 |
| Location | 600 E. First St. Anamosa, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 42°06′25.7″N 91°16′44.6″W / 42.107139°N 91.279056°W |
| Other information | |
| Director | Rebecca Vernon |
| Phone number | 319-462-2183 |
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Anamosa Public Library
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 E. 1st St. Anamosa, Iowa |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902-1903 |
| Architect | Dwight H. Perkins |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| MPS | Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000380 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1983 |
The Anamosa Library & Learning Center is a public library located in Anamosa, Iowa, United States. It used to be called the Anamosa Public Library. The first building, built in 1903, is very old and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. A brand new, much bigger library opened in 2004.
Contents
Library History: From Old to New
How the Library Started
The idea for a public library in Anamosa began in 1900. A former resident named Walter S. Benton left $10,000 in his will. This money was meant to buy books for a library. However, the city had to build a library building by 1903 to get the money.
The city and Mr. Benton's estate couldn't agree on the plans. So, a group called the Francis Shaw Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) stepped in. They took charge and raised the money needed to build the library.
The Original Building
A famous architect from Chicago named Dwight H. Perkins designed the first library. It was a single-story building built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style uses strong, simple shapes and often features round arches. The building was made from local limestone.
Inside, there was a reading room on one side and shelves for books on the other. A desk for checking out books was in the middle. This building served the community for many years.
A New Chapter: The Modern Library
By the 1990s, the historic library building was getting too small. It also wasn't set up for new technology. Ernest J. Buresh, who used to live in Anamosa, helped a lot. He gave the land for a new library. His family also offered $500,000 if the community could raise one million dollars by December 2002.
OPN Architects from Cedar Rapids designed the new building. It is about 12,000 square feet, which is three times bigger than the old one. The community successfully raised the money without needing a special vote. The new library, also built with native limestone, opened on November 8, 2004. The original historic building is now used by the Anamosa Police Department.
