11 Most Impressive Libraries from the Ancient World

Very nice website passed along to me by one of my readers. If you are interested in libraries, you will want to take a look. There are also related posts that you can check out. A great quick-look overview at ancient libraries. 11 Most Impressive Libraries from the Ancient World

From the website: Libraries, regardless of whether or not they attach themselves to a university, belong to a public system, or simply sit inside someone's home, exist as an essential vertebrae in society's backbone. These intellectual institutions make knowledge and education accessible to individuals, businesses and cities alike, preventing mental — and, subsequently, collective — stagnation. By no means are they anything new, either! For millennia, libraries of all shapes and sizes have kept humanity puttering ever forward, allowing for some of the greatest innovations ever conceived. Although all but one gradually fell to fire and time, these ancient wonders deserve awe and accolades for everything they've accomplished when it comes to promoting every academic and literary subject imaginable.

1907 Forbes Library, Northampton, Massachusetts

The Forbes Library opened in 1894, as a result of a bequest by Judge Charles E. Forbes, who wished to build a public library for the citizens of Northampton. The massive three-story stone building, which is on the Register of Historic Buildings, was designed by William Brocklesby to be completely fire proof with all steel framing and stone, slate, and copper exterior. [http://www.forbeslibrary.org/about/about.shtml]

[LIB804] Click on the image to order a reproduction of this postcard!

1908 Stevens Library, Ashburnham, Massachusetts

[LIB0365] - In 1888, the town accepted the bequest of George Stevens, former town clerk, in the amount of $10,000.00 and a piece of land at the corner of Main and Water Street, with the stipulation that it be used as a site for a public library building. The money from George Stevens was turned over to the town treasurer in 1889, and the library was named Stevens Public Library by a vote.

In April 1890, the ground was broken and in December 1890, the building was dedicated. Books were moved from the selectman's office to the library's new location. The doors opened to the public on January 9, 1891. Read more about this historic library here.

1918 Carnegie Library, Allegan, Michigan

[LIB0364] - 1914, The present Carnegie Library building was formally opened on Hubbard Street. The total cost was $13,000. Read more about this historic library here.

1907 Public Library, Jersey City, New Jersey

[LIB0353] - On May 13, 1889, seven men met in the City Hall office of Mayor Orestes Cleveland to organize the first free public library for Jersey City. These newly appointed library trustees chose as their president Leonard Gordon, M.D., a long-term advocate for a public library. Their first task was to file a suit to force the city's Finance Board to appropriate the funds mandated by state law. Read more about this great library here.

Carnegie Library, Mt. Vernon, Illinois

[LIB0350] - Local businessmen worked to secure a donation from Andrew Carnegie and the city accepted $12,500.00 from Mr. Carnegie. On April 8, 1903, the city resolved to "furnish a suitable site and grounds upon which to erect said building, and to appropriate, levy, and raise, by direct taxation or otherwise," 10% of the donation annually to support the library. Property was optioned in Green's subdivision of block twelve (101 South 7th Street) for $7,000.00. The city council minutes of August 3, 1905 reported the building (at a total cost of $15,562.00) was now ready for occupancy. The library has continued to operate from these premises to this day. Read more of the history of this library here.

1908 Morgan Everts Library, Clarion, Iowa

[LIB0347] - Clarion Public Library - In February, 1907, the city. voted through its council, to accept the generous offer of Morgan Everts, then of California, but for many years counted one of the pioneers of Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa, to raise a fund of five thousand dollars, after which said Everts would donate ten thousand dollars more toward erecting and maintaining a public library to be known as the "Morgan, Everts Library." The city voted on this question on March 2, 1907, and the measure carried. Read more here.

1908 Public Library, Carey, Ohio

[LIB0346] - Courtesy of Waymarking: Like many towns, Carey had a history of small lending libraries run by different groups, with collections housed in various buildings and rooms in town. Mayor Greeley Chambers contacted Andrew Carnegie to request a grant to build a permanent library structure. In 1904, the small town received a small grant of $8000 for this purpose. An additional $5000 was received from local citizen Edwin Brown. Brown’s wife’s mother, Dorcas Carey, was the wife of John Carey, who founded the village. The library took her name in memoriam. The yellow brick building was designed by H. O. Wurmser, who had also designed school buildings and the First Methodist Church in Lorain, Ohio. Dorcas Carey Public Library opened 19 October 1906 with a relatively large collection of just over 5000 books. The building would be expanded several times over the next century. A large addition in 1979 had a second story added in 1987. Ten years later, another expansion project was completed. Today, the library lends books and audio-visual materials, but also has reproduction oil paintings available for 8 week loans. Local newspapers dating to 1873 are available on microfilm, a slide projector is available for rent, and internet access is offered. Programs include adult literacy tutoring, children’s story time, and family movie nights.
References:
Armentrout, Mary Ellen: Carnegie Libraries of Ohio

DePeyster Library, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

[LIB0345] - Franklin and Marshall College - 1897-1898 - First College library building constructed in Richardsonian Romanesque style at a cost of $16,055 plus $990 for a steam heating plant and $5,150 for steel book stacks; Named Watts-de Peyster Library after Frederick de Peyster and John Watts, father and maternal grandfather of donor, John Watts de Peyster (1821-1907) Read more here.

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1909 Public Library, Bayonne, New Jersey

[LIB0277] - The Bayonne Public Library is a magnificent building built in the Beaux-Art and Classical Revival styles complete with Ionic and Doric columns, and richly ornamented architectural details. The Bayonne Public Library, incorporated in 1890, moved into the present Carnegie-funded building at 697 Avenue C in 1904. Read more about the history of this library, click here!

Warder Public Library, Springfield, Ohio

[LIB0237] - The Clark County Public Library had its first real beginnings around the year 1841 with what was then known as the Springfield Lyceum. Various short-lived Library Associations followed and the library found a more permanent home on the second floor of Black's Opera House. The library housed 3,300 volumes when it opened to the public at this location in 1872. As patronage and the collection expanded, the need for yet another move set in and the library relocated in 1877 to the second floor of the Union Hall Building, which was situated on what is today Fountain Avenue.
Local entrepreneur Benjamin Warder gave the library a new location on the south-west corner of East High and South Spring Streets in 1890 with a building constructed in memory of his parents, and dedicated to the people of Springfield. This location now houses the Warder Literacy Center. Read more about this library history here.

1940 Public Library, Baraboo, Wisconsin

[LIB0236] - In 1903 Baraboo Public Library opened at 230 4th Avenue. Previous to 1903, the library was housed in a room at the City Building. The library was chartered by the State of Wisconsin in 1895.
The 6,000 sq. ft. building was designed by Louis Claude of the Madison firm, Claude and Stark. Louis spent his youth at his parents' home at Devil's Lake, giving special meaning to his selection as the architect. A $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie made the construction possible. Karl Isenberg, a local contractor, was the builder. Architecturally, the building is of the neo-classical style with an exterior of brick and limestone. The roof is of clay tile. Interior features of note are the red oak woodwork and a frieze in the east reading room, originally the children's room, that is a copy of "The Dancing Boys" by Della Robbia. There are two fireplaces, one upstairs and one downstairs. Read more about the Baraboo Public Library here.

Lee Circle, Showing Library and Shriners Temple, New Orleans, Louisiana

[LIB0192] - Robert E. Lee Circle with the heroic statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in the center, more than 100 feet high and made by the sculptor Boyle, at a cost of $40,000. To the right of the picture is the Public Library. This spot was known as Tivoli Circle before the monument was erected in 1883. [From the back of the card]

Exhibition Room, The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

[LIB0176] - The Library will serve as a depository for the historical material, personal papers and books accumulated by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his long service in Public Office.

The Library was established as an agency of the U.S. Government by a joint resolution of Congress approved July 18th, 1939. [Back of the card].

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Public Library, Henderson, Kentucky

[LIB0171] - For one hundred years, folks traveling south on Main Street in Henderson have been admiring the white limestone and towering columns of the Henderson County Public Library. This institution first opened its doors to the public on August 1, 1904, after years of hard work by the publisher of the Henderson Journal, Edward Jonas. Mr. Jonas first began his campaign to bring a library to Henderson over a game of golf with the well-known philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie agreed to give the community the funding needed to build the library, if the community would purchase a suitable lot and would enact a tax that would cover the expenses related to running a library. It took Mr. Jonas until 1902 to get the backing of the local government, but soon things began to fall into place. Read more here.

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This memorial to Haryy Elkins Widener, Class of 1907, houses almost half of the world-famous Harvard book collection of over six million volumes. [From the back of the card] - [LIB0153]

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• For Harvard's library, an arduous digital shift - The Boston Globe (boston.com)

Carnegie Library, Enid, Oklahoma

[LIB0146]
The need for a new library building encouraged city leaders to seek a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. In 1908 a grant of $25,000 was accepted and the site at 402 North Independence was purchased. The Enid Carnegie Library officially opened August 1, 1910. In the 1920s and 30s, the library struggled with funding and building repairs. In 1938, Mrs. Amy Carl organized a Friends of the Library group, which helped contribute materials and funds to the struggling library. Read more here!

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