St. Louis Public Library

St. Louis Public Library. The library was founded in 1865 by Andrew Carnegie, John Jacob Astor, and Henry Shaw, with the goal of providing free access to literature and information to the citizens of St. Louis. The library's first location was in a room at the St. Louis Mercantile Library, and it later moved to a building designed by William S. Eames and Thomas B. Annan. The library has since grown to include Central Library, designed by Cass Gilbert and Paul Cret, and features a collection of over 4 million items, including works by Mark Twain, T.S. Eliot, and Langston Hughes.

● History

The library's history dates back to 1865, when it was founded with a collection of 1,500 volumes, including works by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Theodore Dreiser. The library's early years were marked by significant growth, with the addition of new branches, including the Carr Square Branch, designed by Mauran, Russell & Crowell, and the Divoll Branch, designed by Harris Armstrong. The library also played a significant role in the Great Depression, providing access to information and entertainment to those affected by the economic downturn, including Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. The library has also been involved in various literary festivals, including the St. Louis Literary Festival, which has featured authors such as Toni Morrison, John Updike, and Joyce Carol Oates.

● Architecture

The library's Central Library building, designed by Cass Gilbert and Paul Cret, is a notable example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States, with a grand staircase and a reading room with a 50-foot ceiling, inspired by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Library of Congress. The building features a collection of art and sculpture, including works by Frederick MacMonnies, Daniel Chester French, and Auguste Rodin. The library's other branches, including the Barr Branch, designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, and the Julia Davis Branch, designed by Mackey Mitchell Architects, also feature unique architectural designs, inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and Eero Saarinen.

● Collections

The library's collections include over 4 million items, including books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, and audio-visual materials, featuring works by William Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King. The library's rare book room features a collection of rare and valuable items, including a Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio of William Shakespeare's plays, and a collection of incunabula, including works by Aldus Manutius and Johannes Gutenberg. The library also has a significant collection of local history materials, including photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories, documenting the history of St. Louis, Missouri, and the United States, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Dred Scott case.

● Services

The library offers a range of services, including reference services, research assistance, and programming for children and adults, featuring authors such as Dr. Seuss, Judy Blume, and John Grisham. The library also offers access to online resources, including databases, e-books, and digital media, such as OverDrive and Hoopla Digital, and partners with organizations such as the St. Louis Public Schools, Washington University in St. Louis, and Saint Louis University to provide literacy programs and educational resources, including the St. Louis Literacy Consortium and the Gateway Readers program.

● Branches

The library has 16 branches, located throughout the City of St. Louis, including the Central Library, the Carr Square Branch, and the Divoll Branch, designed by Mauran, Russell & Crowell and Harris Armstrong. Each branch offers a range of services and programs, including storytime for children, book clubs for adults, and computer classes, featuring software from Microsoft and Adobe Systems. The library also offers outreach services to seniors, people with disabilities, and homeless individuals, in partnership with organizations such as the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

● Awards_and_recognition

The library has received numerous awards and recognition for its services and programs, including the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Library of the Year Award, awarded by the Library Journal, and has been recognized by organizations such as the American Library Association, the Urban Libraries Council, and the Public Library Association, for its innovative programs and services, including the St. Louis Public Library's Summer Reading Program and the Gateway to Reading program, which have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. The library has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including its LGBTQ+ services and multilingual services, and has partnered with organizations such as the St. Louis LGBTQ+ Community Center and the International Institute of St. Louis to provide cultural programming and language services.