Champaign Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Champaign Public Library |
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| View of Champaign Public Library from Randolph Street Entrance | |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1876 |
| Location | 200 West Green Street Champaign, Illinois United States |
| Coordinates | 40°06′40″N 88°14′46″W / 40.111°N 88.246°W |
| Branches | 2 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 413,799 volumes (2012) |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 2,640,627 |
| Population served | 82,517 |
| Members | 35,039 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $6.8 million |
| Director | Donna Pittman |
| Phone number | 217-403–2000 |
The Champaign Public Library is a public library in Champaign, Illinois. It has two locations: the main library downtown and the Douglass branch. When the main library moved to a new building in 2008, it became much bigger. It almost tripled in size! The library also started with nearly 285,000 books and other items.
Contents
Discovering the Library's History
The Champaign Public Library started a long time ago, in 1868. It began as a private group of about 40 people who loved to read. They paid money to keep their collection of over 300 books. These books were kept in a cozy reading room in downtown Champaign.
In 1876, the group decided to make their library open to everyone. The City Council officially created the public library on July 21, 1876. They set aside $1,000 to help the library get started. When it first opened, the public library had almost 750 books.
A Generous Gift for a New Building
In 1894, a kind banker named A.C. Burnham gave a large gift of $50,000. He wanted to build a new library in memory of his wife, Julia Finley Burnham. She had been a member of the library board. Of this money, $40,000 was for the land and building. The other $10,000 was for buying new books.
The new building, called the Burnham Athenaeum, opened on December 17, 1896. It was located at 306 W. Church Street. It started with two librarians and 5,593 books. Over time, the library grew a lot. When that building finally closed, it had 40 employees and over 100,000 items!
Expanding to a Larger Space
In November 1977, a new Main Library opened at 505 S. Randolph Street. This building was about 40,000 square feet. It was designed by Hammond Beeby and Associates from Chicago. Most of the money for this building came from a $2.3 million vote by the community.
By 2008, the community had outgrown the 40-year-old building. So, the library moved to an even newer and bigger location. The new building was designed by Ross Barney Architects of Chicago, Illinois. It has 121,000 square feet of modern space for everyone to enjoy.
The Main Library Today
Construction for the current main library building began in 2005. It officially opened its doors to the public in 2008. This modern building offers many resources and programs for all ages.
Recognized for Excellence
The Champaign Public Library has won several awards for its great work. In 2013, it received awards from the Library Leadership and Management Association. This group is part of the American Library Association.
- Best of Show for Annual Reports
- Best of Show for Special Programs & Events
- Best of Show for its Webpage/Homepage
- Honorable Mention for Adult & Family Reading Club Materials
- Honorable Mention for Fundraising Materials
Awards for Amazing Design
The library building itself has also won awards for its design and engineering.
- Ross Barney Architects received the AIA Central Illinois Architecture Design Honor Award (2008).
- Henneman Engineering won the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Special Achievement Award (2009). They also received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Illinois Honor Award for Architecture for their engineering design.
- American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter, gave an Honor Award for Interior Architecture to Ross Barney Architects (2009). This is their highest award.
- The Brick Industry Association gave a Silver Award in their Brick in Architecture Awards (2009).
- The American Institute of Architects, Illinois State Component, awarded the Frank Lloyd Wright Honor Award. This award celebrates buildings that improve the natural and built environment of a community.
Exploring the Douglass Branch Library
The Douglass branch library has its own interesting history. It started in 1970 as a project between Champaign and Urbana. It was first located in one room at the Douglass Community Center.
By 1972, the Champaign Public Library took over the branch. It moved to a small building on Bradley Avenue. In June 1997, the branch moved to its current home on East Grove Street. It is located near Douglass Park. Both the library and the park are named after Frederick Douglass. He was a famous abolitionist and journalist.
Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Maryland. He became a strong voice for equality for all people. He even gave speeches in Champaign at least once during his travels.
