New Central Library, St. Louis, Missouri

[LIB11181] - December 9, 2012, marked the grand reopening of Central Library in downtown St. Louis after an extensive two-year renovation. Take a tour back in time and learn about Central Library's rich history that encompasses over 100 years. [Website]

Library Interior, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri

The largest and finest room in the library occupies the full length and width of the central pavilion and extends upward for two stories. The walls and floor are of polished Tennessee marble, the high arched windows are of translucent cathedral glass, and the ceiling of molded plaster is decorated with gold leaf, picked out in color. [from the back of the card]

[LIB11152]

1947 Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri

[LIB9259] The Public Library, a fine specimen of dignified public-building architecture, occupies a commanding position overlooking the new Civic Center in the heart of the St. Louis business district. [from the back of the card]

1974 The Pius XII Memorial Library, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

[LIB6694] - Microfil reading room with large readers and special tables offers modern accommodations to researchers in age-old manuscripts. With permission of Pius XII and subsidation of the Knights of Columbus, Saint Louis University microfilmed large numbers of Vatican Library manuscripts. Also available are filmed collection of Jesuit missionary activity. [From the back of the card.]

Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri

[LIB2436] - The downtown Central Library was built with a substantial gift made in 1901 by Andrew Carnegie, along with six neighborhood branches, four of which (Barr, Cabanne, Carpenter, and Carondelet) are still in use. The original 1865 collection included 1500 books and by 1893 that number had grown to 90,000. Between 1894 and 1917 book deliveries, children’s programs, and a librarian training school all began. By 1938 the collection grew to 900,000 books and other items. Today the system consists of 15 branches and Central Library with 4.6 million items in its collection, 85,000 cardholders, over 300 full time staff, and 2 million visitors annually. [Website]