Livermore Carnegie Library and Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Livermore Carnegie Library and Park
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3rd Street Entrance to Carnegie Building
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| Location | Livermore, Alameda County, California, United States |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | William H. Weeks |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival (Temple style) |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000876 |
| Added to NRHP | 2011 |
The Carnegie Library in Livermore, California, is a special building with a long history. It first opened its doors in 1911 as a public library. For 55 years, it was a place where people could borrow books and learn.
In 1966, a new, bigger library was built. But the old Carnegie Library didn't close down! Instead, it became home to a history museum and an art gallery. This means you can still visit it today to learn about the past and see beautiful art.
The building was designed by an architect named William H. Weeks. It's built in a style called Greek Revival, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Because of its history and design, it's now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States.
Around the library is a lovely park. Every week, a farmers' market is held there. People come to buy fresh food grown nearby and enjoy music from local artists.
Contents
History of the Livermore Library
The idea for a library in Livermore started a long time ago, in 1875. A group called the Livermore Library and Dramatic Association created the very first library. It began with about 250 books. To borrow books, families paid a small yearly fee.
In 1878, a new group took over the library. They tried to raise money to build a special library building. However, people lost interest, and the library closed in 1887. The books were kept safe in the local newspaper office.
A New Start for the Library
The library got a fresh start in 1896 thanks to the Livermore Ladies League of Progress. They named it the Livermore Free Library. This group worked hard to buy back the old library building.
By 1901, the city of Livermore decided to take over the library. This meant the city would pay for its running costs. By this time, the library had grown quite a bit, with 3,500 books!
Getting a Carnegie Grant
In 1908, the library board, led by Mrs. Dell C. Savage, wanted to build a bigger, better library. They applied for money from the Carnegie Foundation. Andrew Carnegie was a very rich businessman who gave money to build thousands of libraries around the world.
The Carnegie Foundation approved a grant of $10,000 for Livermore. The city agreed to help too. They promised to provide $1,000 each year for ten years. They also agreed to buy land for the new building and help pay for the library's operations with tax money.
In December 1909, the people of Livermore voted to approve the plan. The vote passed easily! The city then bought a piece of land about 1.83 acres (0.74 hectares) in size for $9,000. This land used to be a corral and slaughterhouse.
The New Library Opens
The new Carnegie Library building opened in 1911. It served as Livermore's main public library until 1966. That's when the city built an even newer, larger library in a different part of town.
The original Carnegie building is still standing today. It's built in the Classical Revival style. Now, it's home to the Livermore Heritage Guild's History Center and Museum. The building is in the middle of a park. This park is bordered by 3rd Street, J Street, 4th Street, and K Street.
The park is a lively place. It hosts a weekly farmers' market where many people come to buy fresh, local produce. They also enjoy listening to music from local artists. The Livermore Area Parks and Recreation District (LARPD) takes care of both the building and the park.
Building Details
The Livermore Carnegie Library was designed by William H. Weeks. He designed more than 20 Carnegie Libraries in California! He also designed the pretty fountain at the entrance. The Hoyt Brothers company built the library for $10,640. Many local residents and farmers even volunteered to help with the construction.
Outside the Building
The library's style is called Greek Revival, specifically "Temple style." It has one main floor and a full basement. The building is almost square, measuring about 45 by 47 feet (13.7 by 14.3 meters).
The walls are made of light yellow bricks from the local area. They are covered with terra cotta and plaster. The corners, edges, and foundation have light-colored quoins. These are block-like stones that stand out against the yellow walls.
Around the roof, there's a low wall called a parapet. It's decorated with large dentils, which look like a row of teeth. The center of the roof is a bit higher. You can see ornamental lions on one side of the building.
The main entrance, on the Third Street side, has a central porch called a portico. It's decorated with a triangular shape called a pediment. This pediment is held up by two pairs of Greek Ionic columns. The entrance itself has double wooden doors with glass panels. Above the doors, there's a rounded arch made of clear glass.
Inside the Building
The main floor of the library was divided into four areas. The biggest room was called the Reference Room. It was on the east side of the building and had shelves of books, chairs, and tables. On the west side, there were two corner rooms used as offices. There was also a large entrance area called a foyer. The library desk was right across the foyer from the main entrance.
The basement had a large room, about 26 by 28 feet (7.9 by 8.5 meters), which was the Children's Reading Room. There were also two small offices and a service area in the basement.
The inside of the building still looks much like it did when it was built. Some modern changes have been made, like updated plumbing. Emergency exit doors, an outside elevator, and a concrete ramp have also been added.
The Park Around the Library
The Livermore Herald newspaper gave a sundial and several street lamps for the park. Architect Weeks designed the beautiful fountain in front of the entrance. It's made of sandstone and has a carved bowl about 5.17 feet (1.58 meters) across. Water flows from the bowl into an eight-sided basin that is 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. This fountain has been working since it was installed in May 1911.
The park's landscaping has changed over the years. Two sets of concrete steps connect the park to the main building entrance. In 1946, a memorial plaque for World War II was placed in the park's southeast corner. A tall flagpole, 60 feet (18 meters) high, was moved to Carnegie Park and put next to the plaque. The east and west parts of the park now have picnic tables, which were added later in the 20th century.
What is the Carnegie Building Used For Today?
Since 1974, the Livermore Historical Guild and the Livermore Arts Association have shared the old library building. The Livermore Historical Guild runs the History Center and Museum, where you can learn about Livermore's past. The Livermore Arts Association uses the space for art exhibits.
Both the building and its park were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.
