Rockland Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockland Public Library |
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| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1903 |
| Location | Union St., Rockland, Maine |
| Collection | |
| Size | 52,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 168,000 |
| Population served | 7,297 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $617,726 |
| Director | Amy Levine |
| Staff | 11 |
| Website | [1] |
The Rockland Public Library is a special building in Rockland, Maine. It's located on Union Street in the center of town. This library was built a long time ago, in 1903-1904. A famous person named Andrew Carnegie helped pay for it.
The building is known for its beautiful design. Because of its unique look, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list includes important historical places in the United States. The Rockland Public Library is also one of the few libraries in Maine called a "Star Library." This means it's one of the best!
Contents
A Look at the Library's Design and Story
The Rockland Public Library sits on the west side of Rockland's main shopping area. It's at the end of a block surrounded by Union, White, and Beech Streets. Next to it, you'll find St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Even though its address is on Union Street, a small park separates it from the road. You can enter the library from the park or from White Street.
Building Style and Materials
The library is a single-story building made of cut granite stone. It also has a full basement. The roof has a special cross-gabled shape. The building looks a bit like the letter "H." The original part, built in 1903-1904, faces east. A newer section, built later, faces west and is connected by a wide hallway.
The original part of the library has two cool styles: Romanesque and Beaux Arts. For example, you'll see tall, round columns called Doric columns next to the main entrance on Union Street. There's also a reading area on the south side that's shaped like a half-circle, called an apse. Its windows have flat, decorative columns called pilasters.
How the Library Was Built
The library was built between 1903 and 1904. A big part of the money came from Andrew Carnegie. He was a very rich businessman who helped build many libraries across the country. He gave $20,000 for this library.
The Rockland Public Library is the only major building in the city that shows the Beaux Arts style. This style is also quite rare in the state of Maine. A talented architect from Maine named George Clough designed the library. He worked with Herbert Wardner on the project.
Famous Visitors and Modern Updates
In July 1910, a very important person visited the library. President William Taft gave a speech to a large crowd right on the library's lawn. Imagine a president speaking right where you might read a book!
A few years later, in 1915, the building got a modern upgrade. It was wired for electricity, which was a big deal back then. This made it easier for people to read and study, even after dark.
