Aurora Public Library (Illinois)

Aurora Public Library
Former main Aurora Public Library, remodeled c. 1969.
Coordinates 41°45′25″N 88°19′12″W / 41.757067°N 88.320031°W / 41.757067; -88.320031Coordinates: 41°45′25″N 88°19′12″W / 41.757067°N 88.320031°W / 41.757067; -88.320031
Branches 3
Collection
Size 467,935 (2015)[1]
Access and use
Circulation 1,273,590 (2015)[1]
Population served 200,000
Other information
Director Daisy Porter-Reynolds[2]
Staff 18[2]
Website www.aurorapubliclibrary.org

The Aurora Public Library is a public library in Aurora, Illinois, United States. It is made of up one central library with two branch libraries. In addition to these facilities the library runs a bookmobile, bringing its total service population to 200,000 people.

History

The first Aurora Public Library opened its doors on June 1, 1882. Interest in the library during its first years was high enough to fill its shelves by 1883 and warrant an expansion in 1885. Along with the expansion came reading rooms and avabile reserve stacks for the library's entire collection, but by 1900 the City of Aurora had grown to such an extent that the library again ran out of room.[3] Members of the city came together in 1900 to appeal to Andrew Carnegie for funds to construct a new library. On Jan 16, 1901 Carnegie's reply came with a promise of $50,000 towards construction with the stipulation the City governance set aside $5,000 annually to the library's upkeep and maintenance. Since the library was already receiving $6,000 per year due to a city library tax the agreement with Carnegie was met and the library was erected in 1904.[3][4]

In 1969 this library became too small to meet the needs of the growing city around it, and a $500,000 renovation took place to completely replace the library with a building triple its size.[3][5]

To increase more outreach to the public, branches were set up in various parts of the city. In October, 1989 the Fox Valley Branch was temporarily established awaiting the construction of the Eola Road Branch which opeed in 1993. Another library, the West Branch library, opened in 1998.[3]

During the last 2000's it again became apparent that the library was simply not big enough to store its entire collection. Plans began for a new building and the site of the former Beacon-News (at the southwest corner of Benton and River streets) was purchased in 2010 for its construction. The new library, costing $30 million, opened June 14, 2015.[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Performance Measures" (PDF). APL Annual Report. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Library Staff". Aurora Public Library. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Patterson, Frank. "Library History". Aurora Public Library. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Aurora To Get $50,000" (Volume IX - No. 19). The Chicago Daily Tribune. January 19, 1901. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 Gregory, Ted (May 23, 2015). "Library's closing reveals fading Carnegie legacy, hopeful future". Chicago Tribune.
  6. ↑ "Old Aurora Public Library building closes for good". The Beacon News. Chicago Tribune. May 25, 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
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