St. Louis Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Louis Public Library |
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| The Central Library | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1865 |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Branches | 15 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 4.6 million |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 2.3 million |
| Population served | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Members | 85,000 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $22.2 million |
| Director | Waller McGuire |
| Staff | 300 |
| Website | http://www.slpl.org |
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The St. Louis Public Library is a fantastic public library system in St. Louis, Missouri. It has 16 different locations, including its main building, the Central Library. This library helps everyone in St. Louis learn new things and find great books.
Contents
History of the Library
The St. Louis Public Library started way back in 1865. Ira Divoll, who was in charge of St. Louis public schools, created a special library. People paid a small fee to use it. Divoll believed libraries should work with schools. He wanted everyone to have a chance to learn and grow.
In 1869, the library moved to the Board of Education building. It had four staff members ready to help people for 12 hours a day. Unlike many libraries then, it welcomed children of all ages. This made it a special place for young readers.
The library grew very fast! It started with 1,500 books in 1865. By 1893, it had 90,000 books. Because of all these books, it needed a bigger home. In 1893, the library moved to the top floors of a new Board of Education building.
Also in 1893, something big happened. People in St. Louis voted to make the library free for everyone. It would be supported by a property tax, not by fees. This meant all St. Louis residents could use the library without paying.
The library stayed in the Board of Education building until 1909. During this time, the Central Library was being built. The old building was just not big enough anymore. This is also when the library started letting people "check out" books. You could take books home to read!
In 1901, a very generous person named Andrew Carnegie gave a lot of money to the library. This money helped build new branches, including the amazing Central Library. By then, the library had 90,000 books. By 1938, it had 900,000 items, and by 2014, it had a huge collection of 4.6 million items!
Library Locations
The St. Louis Public Library has 16 different locations. The biggest one is the Central Library. Other branches include Baden, Barr, Buder, Cabanne, Carondelet, Carpenter, Charing Cross, Compton, Julia Davis, Divoll, Kingshighway, Machacek, Marketplace, Schlafly, and Walnut Park. Some of these branches, like Barr and Carondelet, were also built with money from Andrew Carnegie.
Central Library Building
The main Central Library building is located at 13th and Olive streets. It was finished in 1912. A famous architect named Cass Gilbert designed it. The building is really cool, with an oval-shaped central area. It has four light courts that let in lots of sunshine.
The outside of the building is made of light gray granite. The front, facing Olive Street, looks like a giant archway. It has beautiful marble designs. A grand entrance in the middle welcomes visitors. At the back, there's a lovely sunken garden. Inside, some floors are made of glass that lets light through. The ceiling in the Periodicals Room was inspired by a famous ceiling by Michelangelo! The building was updated and expanded between 2010 and 2012.
Library Services and Fun Stuff
The St. Louis Public Library offers many awesome things for you to enjoy!
- Movies and Music: You can check out DVDs, Blu-Rays, music CDs, and even audiobooks.
- Kids' Sections: Each library has special areas just for children with books and activities.
- Computers and Internet: Use computers with fast internet, printing, and word processing.
- Digital Fun: Access apps like Libby and Hoopla for e-books, audiobooks, and music.
- Borrow from Other Libraries: If a book isn't at your library, they can get it from another one!
- Launchpads: These are tablets you can check out. They have educational games and apps for kids.
- Notary Services: Help with signing important documents.
- Passport Help: You can even get help processing your passport application here.
- Magazines and Newspapers: Read all kinds of magazines and newspapers from around the world.
- Help with Questions: Librarians are there to help you find information and answer questions.
- Events and Programs: Enjoy special events, author visits, and book signings.
- Video Games: Yes, you can check out video games for systems like PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S!
- Register to Vote: When you're old enough, you can register to vote at the library.
See also
- List of Carnegie libraries in Missouri
- Frederick M. Crunden
