Austin Public Library (Minnesota)

Austin Public Library
43°40′14″N92°58′16″W / 43.670651°N 92.971115°W / 43.670651; -92.971115
Location	323 4th Ave. NE Austin, MN 55912-3773
Established	1884
Collection
Size	103,000
Access and use
Population served	30,000 [1]
Other information
Director	Julie Clinefelter [2]
Website	www.aplmn.org

The Austin Public Library is a public library in Austin, Minnesota. It is a member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, the SE Minnesota library region. ^[3]

History

The original Carnegie Library in Austin

The library began in 1884 out of the basement of the Mower County courthouse. ^[1] By the turn of the century there became an increased need in more library space so the city of Austin reached out to Andrew Carnegie to petition for funds for a new building. An initial request for $25,000 was turned down and replaced with an offer of $12,000. Citing a growth in population the city requested more, and on October 3, 1901, Carnegie agreed to donate $15,000 with the stipulation the city agree to pay a $1,500 annual upkeep and maintenance fee on the building. ^[4] Upon its completion the Austin Ladies' Floral Club donated 3,425 of the volumes in its own library to the new Carnegie library. ^[5]

The Carnegie building was the main public library of Austin until its replacement in 1996.

References

1. "About the Library". Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
2. "A new page for the library; Clinefelter begins duties as Austin Public Library director | Austin Daily Herald". www.austindailyherald.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
3. Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO)
4. "New Carnagie Library". Vol. XXXVII, no. 6. Mower County Transcript. April 13, 1904. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
5. "45th Meeting of Ladies' Floral Club". Vol. XLVII, no. 28. Mower County Transcript. September 16, 1914. Retrieved October 6, 2017.

External links

• Austin Public Library
• Online Catalog