Council Bluffs Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Council Bluffs Public Library |
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| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1866 |
| Location | 400 Willow Ave. Council Bluffs, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°15′32.3″N 95°50′58.8″W / 41.258972°N 95.849667°W |
| Collection | |
| Size | 186,970 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 550,000 (2015) |
| Other information | |
| Director | Kathy Rieger |
| Phone number | 712-323-7553 |
| References: | |
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Council Bluffs Free Public Library
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The former Council Bluffs Public Library building, now the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 200 Pearl St. Burlington, Iowa |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Patton and Miller |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000048 |
| Added to NRHP | January 27, 1999 |
The Council Bluffs Public Library helps people in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and nearby areas. It also serves several other towns. This library started a long time ago, in 1866! Today, you can find it on Willow Avenue. Its old building on Pearl Street is now a special historic place.
Contents
Library History: From Subscription to Public
The idea for a public library in Council Bluffs began in 1866. Back then, it was a "subscription library." This meant people paid a fee to borrow books. Only males over 12 could join.
How the Free Public Library Started
Later, in 1878, the Council Bluffs Library Association was created. Then, in 1882, a "Free Public Library" started. This library didn't charge fees, and it operated from rented rooms.
Building a New Library with Carnegie's Help
A library leader named W. S. Baird contacted the Carnegie Foundation. This foundation, started by Andrew Carnegie, helped build many libraries. They agreed to give $50,000 for a new building. The city had to provide the land and pay $5,000 each year to run it.
The foundation later increased its gift to $70,000. This happened when the city agreed to raise its yearly payment to $7,000. The money was officially given on January 6, 1903. The new library building opened on September 12, 1905.
The Old Library Building's Design
The building was designed by a Chicago company called Patton & Miller. It was built in the Beaux-Arts style. This style is known for being grand and classical. It was the biggest Carnegie library ever built in Iowa.
The Library Today
Over time, the old library building became too small. A new, much larger library was finished in 1998. It cost $13.5 million to build. This new library has 67,500 square feet of space.
The old Carnegie building is now the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. It opened in 2013. The city still owns the old building. The Union Pacific Railroad pays for its running costs. The library helps manage the museum's collection.
Cities Served by Contract
The Council Bluffs Public Library also provides services to these nearby cities:
