Lawrence Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lawrence Public Library |
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| The Lawrence Public Library | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1854 (Subscription) 1904 (Public) |
| Location | 707 Vermont Street Lawrence, Kansas 66044-2371 |
| Coordinates | 38°58′14″N 95°14′15″W / 38.97056°N 95.23750°W |
| Collection | |
| Size | 201,040 (2015) |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 1,367,223 (2015) |
| Members | 75,000 (2015) |
| Other information | |
| Director | Brad Allen |
| Phone number | +1 (785) 843-3833 |
The Lawrence Public Library is a public library located in Lawrence, Kansas. It's a place where everyone can borrow books, movies, and more for free.
Contents
History of the Library
Early Days: The 1800s
The very first library in Lawrence opened its doors in October 1854. Back then, you had to pay to be a member. It cost $1 each year, or you could pay $25 to be a member for your whole life! In 1855, a man named Amos A. Lawrence brought many books to the town.
Sadly, in 1863, the library was burned down during an event called Quantrill's Raid. But the people of Lawrence didn't give up. A new library was built just three years later, in 1866.
In its first two years, the library bought 75 books. People also donated 150 books. In September 1871, the city of Lawrence took over the library. They moved it to the Lawrence National Bank building. The library used three rooms on the second floor.
Growth and Change: The 1900s
The Carnegie Library Era
The old library was getting too full. It had 6,000 books! The yearly $1 membership fee was not enough money to build a bigger library. A local resident, Peter Emery, asked a rich person who helps others, called a philanthropist, named Andrew Carnegie for money.
Carnegie agreed to help! He gave $27,500 for a brand new library. But he had two conditions:
- The new library had to be free for everyone to use.
- The city had to spend $2,750 each year to keep it running.
The city of Lawrence voted on this idea, and most people said yes! The new, free library officially opened on December 26, 1904.
Expanding Services
After the Carnegie library opened, the Lawrence Public Library grew a lot. By 1922, so many children loved the library that a special room was added just for them. By 1936, nearly half of all people in Lawrence had a library card!
In 1937, the library needed more storage space for its growing collection. Then, in 1957, the library was updated to look more modern.
A Brand New Building
Eventually, even the Carnegie Library wasn't big enough for all the books and people. The city of Lawrence decided to build a completely new library. They chose a spot close to the old building. In 1970, the city voted to spend $1,575,000 on the new building, and the idea passed easily.
This new, much larger building opened in August 1972. The old Carnegie building then became the home for the Friends of the Library association, a group that supports the library.
Modern Updates: The 2000s
On November 10, 2010, the Library Board of Trustees suggested an $18 million plan to make the library even better. They pointed out that since 1972, the number of people using the library had more than doubled! Voters approved this plan in 2010. Construction on the updated library finished in July 2014.
After its big renovation, the Lawrence Public Library received some cool awards. In 2016, it won the AIA/ALA Library Building Award. Also, a popular magazine called Elle Decor ranked the library as 16th in its list of the "50 Best Libraries in America"!
Images for kids
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A mural on the side of the library.
