Burlington Public Library (Burlington, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burlington Public Library |
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| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1868 |
| Location | 210 Court St. Burlington, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 40°48′47.60″N 91°06′34.92″W / 40.8132222°N 91.1097000°W |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 455,466 (2014) |
| Other information | |
| Director | Rhonda Frevert |
| Phone number | 563-326-7832 |
| References: | |
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Burlington Public Library
(former building) |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The former Burlington Public Library building in 2013.
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 501 N. 4th St. Burlington, Iowa |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1896-1898 |
| Built by | J. C. Sutherland |
| Architect | T.S. Hoyt |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Heritage Hill Historic District (ID82000406) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000682 |
| Added to NRHP | March 27, 1975 |
The Burlington Public Library is a public library in Burlington, Iowa, United States. It first opened its doors in 1868. Today, you can find the library on Court Street.
The library's older building on Fourth Street is also famous. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's a special historical place. Later, in 1982, it became part of the Heritage Hill Historic District.
The Library's Story: How it Began
The Burlington Public Library started as a "subscription library" in 1868. This means people paid a fee to use it. It was located in two rooms inside the city hall.
A US Senator named James Wilson Grimes helped start the library. He gave $5,000 of his own money. This was a very generous gift back then!
Building the First Library Home
Later, a kind person named Philip M. Crapo suggested building a new library. He offered $20,000 if the city council would give the same amount. The city agreed, and the project moved forward. Mr. Crapo also paid for many of the things inside the new building.
An architect from Boston named T.S. Hoyt designed the building. It was meant to look like the Gothic Revival style. However, the builder, J. C. Sutherland, changed the plans a bit. The building ended up looking more like the Renaissance Revival style. It was built between 1896 and 1898. The whole project cost $55,000.
A Brand New Library Building
Work began on the current library building in October 2004. Many groups helped pay for it. These included the Friends of the Burlington Public Library Foundation and private donations. The city of Burlington, a Vision Iowa Grant, and Des Moines County also contributed.
The new library officially opened on November 13, 2006. It was a big success! In 2007, the library won an award for the Best Community Initiated Development Project.
This modern library uses a special heating and cooling system. It's called a geothermal system. It gets its power from 132 wells that are 267 feet (81 meters) deep under the parking lot. This helps save energy.
The old library building found a new purpose. It is now home to the Des Moines County Historical Society museum.
