Paxton Carnegie Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Paxton Carnegie Public Library
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Paxton Carnegie Public Library, 2007.
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 254 S. Market St., Paxton, Illinois |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Paul O. Moratz |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | MPL015 - Illinois Carnegie Libraries Multiple Property Submission |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000463 |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 2002 |
The Paxton Carnegie Public Library is a special building in Paxton, Illinois, a city in Ford County, Illinois. This historic library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important landmark. It's still open today, serving as a public library for everyone in Paxton.
Contents
A Look Back: The Library's Story
How the Library Started
The Paxton Carnegie Library began its journey in 1903. It was built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie, a very rich businessman. He gave money to towns all over the world to build libraries. These are known as Carnegie Libraries.
Building the Library
The library building was designed by an architect named Paul O. Moratz from Bloomington, Illinois. Construction started after the library received a $10,000 grant from Carnegie. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed in October 1903 by Harry and George Turner.
Preserving History
The library's unique design has been kept safe for over 100 years. Inside, the library looks much like it did in 1903. Even the original oak wood desk, where books are checked out, is still used! In 2003, during the library's 100th birthday party, the cornerstone was removed by Alan Turner, who is Harry Turner's grandson.
The Library Today
How the Library is Run
The Paxton Carnegie Library is managed by a group of nine people called a board of trustees. They meet once a month to make decisions about the library.
What You Can Find There
Today, the library has a huge collection of over 26,000 books. It also has many magazines for adults and kids, plus four different newspapers. You can find about 1,000 videos and 300 audiobooks too. The library offers computers and fax machines for public use.
Borrowing and Services
You can borrow books for two weeks and magazines or DVDs for one week. There are small fees if items are returned late. If you live in Paxton, you can get a library card for free. People who live outside Paxton can get a card for a yearly fee. The library is also part of the Illinois Heartland Library System, which helps libraries share resources.
