Beloit Public Library | |
---|---|
42°31′10″N89°01′53″W / 42.5195°N 89.0313°W | |
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 |
Public transit access | Beloit Transit |
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.
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 that 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 condition that the city appropriate $2,500 each year for its maintenance. [3] [4]
By 1961, the Carnegie library building was deemed to be outmoded and a $400,000 plan was drafted for a new space. [5] In 1966, the new library received an additional $206,000 in federal funds in order to further increase the size of the building. [6]
In 1969, the Beloit Public Library won the Wisconsin Library of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Library Association. [7] This award was given in conjunction to both the Beloit and Janesville public libraries. [8]
A third move took place in 1972 when the Beloit and East Side libraries merged and moved to downtown Beloit following a $900,000 renovation of what was the former post office. [9] [10] A fourth move took it, in April 2009, from Pleasant St. to Eclipse Blvd in Beloit
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. Beloit is a principal city of the Janesville–Beloit metropolitan statistical area and is included in the Madison–Janesville–Beloit combined statistical area.
Janesville is a city in and the county seat of Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 65,615, making it the tenth-most populous city in Wisconsin. It is a principal municipality of the Janesville–Beloit metropolitan statistical area, which consists of all of Rock County and is included in the greater Madison–Janesville–Beloit combined statistical area.
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Eclipse Center, formerly known as Beloit Plaza or Beloit Mall, is a mixed-use development and former shopping mall in Beloit, Wisconsin. It is undergoing a renovation with the aim of making it a pivotal point in the city. It formerly housed the department store Elder-Beerman, and still houses several Rock County government offices, a convention center and bar, and two School District of Beloit charter schools. There are also an automotive shop and a culinary program run by students from Beloit Memorial High School.
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Mary Boggs, also known as Mary Ross Boggs and in her later career as a writer as Mary Ross Townley, was an American muralist and textbook author. She participated in the art projects for the New Deal's Section of Painting and Sculpture creating the post office mural for Newton, Mississippi, and a collection of her watercolors was held at the Carville Marine Hospital.
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The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) was an American semi-professional basketball league that operated from 1969 to 1974.
The Chicago Circle Chikas football team represented the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) from the 1965 through 1973 season. Between 1950 through 1964, UICC was known as University of Illinois Chicago Undergraduate Division located at Navy Pier, and competed as a junior college. Known as the Chicago Illini during their years competing at Navy Pier, with the move to their new campus, the athletic teams were inspired by the Chickasaw and renamed Chikas. UICC played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Soldier Field. The Chikas program was dropped by the University at the conclusion of their 1973 season.
Beloit Transit is the public transportation system in Beloit, Wisconsin. It is owned and operated by the city of Beloit.