Beloit Public Library
| Beloit Public Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | 605 Eclipse Boulevard Beloit, Wisconsin, United States |
| Type | Public |
| Branch of | The Arrowhead Library System |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 48,000[1] |
| Other information | |
| Director | Nick Dimassis |
| Website | www.beloitlibrary.org |
The Beloit Public Library is a public library located in Beloit, Wisconsin. The library is a member of the Arrowhead Library System, a consortium of seven libraries serving Rock County, Wisconsin.
History
The Beloit Public Library has been operating for 125 years. Beginning in the late 1850s, local volunteer fire companies began to offer library services. It wasn't until 1859 until the first library in Beloit was established.[2]
At the turn of the 20th century, industrialist Andrew Carnegie began donating millions of dollars for the construction of public libraries in the United States. In 1901, J.B. Dow, the president of the Beloit public library board petitioned Carnegie for funds to construct a new library building. In return, the Beloit library board was granted $25,000 to construct the building on the consition that the city appropriate $2,500 each year for its maintenance.[3]
In 1966, the library received $206,000 in federal funds in order to increase the size of the building.[4]
In 1969, the Beloit Public Library won the Wisconsin Library of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Library Association.[5] This award was given in conjunction to both the Beloit and Janesville public libraries.[6]
In 1972, the Beloit and East Side libraries merged and moved to downtown Beloit following a $900,000 renovation to the former postoffice to turn it into a library building.[7][8]
References
- ^ "About the Library | Beloit Public Library". Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ Tollefson, Alan M. History of the Beloit Public Library. n.d.
- ^ "Gifts from Carnegie". The Daily Review. Decatur, Illinois. 1 September 1901. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Federal Funds Set for Library". Janesville Daily Gazette. 29 September 1966. Retrieved 14 September 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "City's Public Library is One Year Old". Janesville Daily Gazette. 30 December 1969. Retrieved 14 September 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Local Libraries Jointly Honored". Janesville Daily Gazette. 7 October 1969. Retrieved 14 September 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Old Beloit Library to Close Saturday". Wisconsin State Journal. 11 February 1972. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Beloit Library to Close for Move". Wisconsin State Journal. 29 January 1972. Retrieved 14 September 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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