Webster Groves Public Library
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| Webster Groves Public Library | |
|---|---|
| Location | Webster Groves, Missouri,  United States |
| Established | 1911 |
| Branch of | Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County |
| Collection | |
| Size | 70,000 |
| Other information | |
| Website | wgpl |
The Webster Groves Public Library is a municipal library in Webster Groves, Missouri. It is a member of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County.
History
Early years
The library originated from a collection managed by a private organization beginning in 1890. The organization, the Monday Club, was funded by donations amounting to US$3,000. The City of Webster Groves donated land for a building to the cause on the condition that the city government could take management of the facility when it had the opportunity. A more permanent residence was built in 1911 by architect Lawrence Ewald at a cost of US$6000 and opened on October 12, 1911. The library was a single-story facility with a ceiling height of 14 feet and a ground plan of 40X60 feet. The interior was walled with hard pine and plaster, and wood shelving. Electric lighting and gas heating utilities were also installed and paid for by the Monday Club. Rooms included a large assembly room, which had applications as a reading room, book room and delivery room, two coat rooms and service rooms on one end of the building, and two rooms at the front for storing special book collections. The library was managed by five volunteer assistants and a librarian salaried by the City of Webster Groves. The library was open two afternoons and one morning each week and was open to the Monday Club for meetings.[1]
A second library was established in North Webster with the help of Douglass High School Principal Howell Gains for access by African-Americans who were only allowed entrance to Webster Groves Library one afternoon a week.[2]
Library expansion
The construction of the Webster Groves expansion was originally planned to be completed in 15 months with the reopening in February or March 2012. The addition included a 100-seat auditorium, 3,000 square feet (280 m2) children's room, and 3,000 square feet (280 m2) lower level for computers and a reference room. The addition was designed to keep the building's original historic look but some residents believed that the design was too modern.[3]
References
- ^ Missouri State Library commission. Volumes 1-10 of the reports of the Missouri Library commission. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ Dan Dillon (2005). So, Where'd You Go to High School? Vol. 2: The Baby Boomer Years: 1950s-1960s. Virginia Publishing. ISBN 1-891444-33-3. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - ^ Harris, Marty (17 September 2010). "Webster Public Library To Relocate During New Construction". Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2012.