Oak Park, Illinois, Public Library, 1960s

 

LIB021590

Carnegie Library, Centralia, Illinois

 

LIB015793

Public Library, Hoopeston, Illinois, 1910

 

LIB956483

Gilpin Library, Interior, Historical Society, Chicago, Illinois

 

Public Library, Rochelle, Illinois

 

LIB112721

Carnegie Library at El Paso, Illinois c1906

LIB686024

Seymour Library, Galesburg, Illinois

LIB827923

Public Library, Spring Valley, Illinois

LIB541743

Morgan Park, Illinois, Public Library, 1915

Morgan Park, Illinois, Public Library, 1915

LIB398424

Carnegie Library, Naperville, Illinois

In the early 1900s College President Herman J. Kiekhoefer and Judge John S. Goodwin initiated contact with philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to seek out funds for new facilities on campus. Carnegie agreed to donate $25,000 (approximately $679,059 in the current consumer price index) to then North-Western College for a new library building. Carnegie Library, as it was formerly called, was one of only a few academic libraries in Illinois that received funding from Carnegie. The building still exists on campus today and is now known as Carnegie Hall.

LIB581212

Naperville, IL City Limits Sign Tshirts by city_limits
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1912, Public Library, Hillsboro, Illinois

LIB831425

Carnegie Library, Blue Island, Illinois

[LIB11285] - In 1903, Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy industrialist and steel magnate, was building and equipping public libraries for towns that committed land and ongoing funds for library operations. He offered such an opportunity to the city of Blue Island, and it gladly accepted his offer. The result was a Bedford Stone Italian Renaissance-style Library with mosaic floors, marble accents, and oak paneled walls on York Street. Affectionately called the “Carnegie” by Blue Islanders, and it stood until 1969 when time and wear took their toll. It was then replaced by the current prairie-style library on the same site.

Public Library, Earlville, Illinois

[LIB11264]

I Love Earlville, Illinois Postcard by ILoveAmerican
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Library, Riverside, Illinois

April 4, 1931
Dedication and opening of the library. Those present included Mr. Connor, Architect of the building and Edgar Cameron, a Chicago artist who painted the mural of Marquette and Joliet. Robert Somerville, first Library Board President, presented the Cameron Mural and decorative map of the region as a personal gift to the Library. Over 1800 people registered for library cards the first week the library was opened. [website]

[LIB11222]

Carnegie Library, Streator, Illinois

[LIB11191] - The Streator Public Library is a historic library funded by Andrew Carnegie it was constructed in 1903. The building has been on the US Historic Landmark list since 1996. The interior large white columns which support the upper level are reflective of the front of the exterior of the structure. There is split stair case with spindled balusters that lead to the upper level landing. From the landing there is a close up view of the Fushs paintings that cover the interior of the dome. The large windows are topped with stained glass. At certain times of the day and year the sun will illuminate the glass spectacularly. [Website]

Carnegie Free Public Library, Jacksonville, Illinois

[LIB11158] - In 1889 the Jacksonville City Council amended the city tax levy to include support of the free library and reading room. Charles W. Alexander served as the first librarian of the city-supported Jacksonville Public Library.

After being contacted in 1901 by Jacksonville lawyer Lawrence O. Vaught, Andrew Carnegie pledged $40,000 for the erection of a public library building in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Public Library officially opened in its permanent home, the Carnegie building at 201 W. College Avenue, on February 23, 1903. [Website]

1910, Library Interior, University of Illinois Urbana, Urbana, Illinois

[LIB11150]

1914 Carnegie Library, Aurora, Illinois

[LIB11074] - On October 15, 1900, Dr. William A. Colledge, pastor of the People’s Church and president of the library board, penned a letter that would shape the Aurora Public Library for more than a century.

The letter was written to none other than Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, who was using his vast fortune to build libraries throughout the English-speaking world. In that letter, Dr. Colledge told of how the existing building was not large enough for the city’s fast-growing population, and he asked the great philanthropist for a new library building for Aurora.

Months passed without a response, but in January, 1901, the reply came. Mr. Carnegie would give $50,000 if the city obtained a site for the building and if the library tax would be continued. [Website]

The new, 92,000-square-foot Main Library will be built on the corner of River and Benton streets on a parcel of land that was purchased by the library in 2009. The firm of Cordogan Clark & Associates was chosen as the architectural firm for the project in 2010. Joining that firm on the project are R.C. Wegman Construction Company as the construction management firm, Schoppe Design Associates as the landscape architect and KDI Design Interiors as the interior design firm.

The current Main Library opened in 1904 and was built with a $50,000 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The building, located on Stolp Island, was expanded in 1969.

Once the new building is completed, it is the intent of the library board to sell the current library building. The City of Aurora has the first right of refusal to purchase the property.

1908 Carnegie Library, Freeport, Illinois

[LIB11073] - 1902: The Carnegie Library opened on Stephenson Street, often mentioned as being among the first Carnegie libraries in Illinois. [Website]

The library today:

Library, Mendota, Illinois

[LIB11069]