Springfield-Greene County Library

Last updated
Springfield-Greene County Library
SpringfieldCarnegieLibrary.jpg
Midtown Carnegie Branch Library
LocationSpringfield, MO, United States
TypePublic
EstablishedMarch 12, 1905
Branches10
Collection
Size391,028
Access and use
Circulation3,498,928
Population served2,001,226
Other information
Budget$20,215,481 (2018-19) [1]
DirectorEd Walton
Websitewww.thelibrary.org

Springfield-Greene County Library District (SGCL) is a library system that operates in both Springfield, Missouri and Greene County, Missouri. Springfield and Greene County Libraries operated as separate entities until 1961, when the Greene County Library board began contracting services from the Springfield Public Library. Boards from both the Springfield Public Library and the Greene County Library decided that it would be more effective to operate as one entity and merged in 1971 becoming the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

Contents

The first library in the district was built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie in 1903 and served as the main district library until 1999 when the Library Center opened to accommodate district growth. The district is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Five of the members are appointed by the Springfield Mayor and the other four are appointed by the Greene County Commission for county representation. [2]

The district is funded primarily through county property taxes, grants, private gifts and funds from The Library Foundation along with proceeds from two semi-annual books sales by the Friends of the Library.

History

The construction of the first library was funded with a $50,000 contribution from Andrew Carnegie in 1903. It opened, as the Springfield Public Library, in 1905 with 700 books and an annual circulation of 8,657. [3] The building served as the main library for the Springfield Library-Greene County district until 1999. It underwent major renovations in early 2000 to convert it to a neighborhood branch to reflect the way it looked in the 1930s. At this time it was renamed the Midtown Carnegie Branch. [4]

In 1945, Ash Grove opened the Ash Grove City Library. The Greene County Library opened in 1951. In 1956, Ash Grove City Library became part of the Greene County Library. Finally in 1971, the Springfield Library and the Greene County Library merged to become the Springfield-Greene County Library system. [5]

Locations

The Springfield-Greene County Library District has 10 branches and a Mobile Library.

Five of the district's ten branches are located in Springfield these include:

The other five branches are located throughout Greene County

Services

The branches offer free WiFi on public computers, and comfortable, convenient places for study and exploration. The Library Center, the headquarters branch, includes a Local History & Genealogy Department used by genealogy researchers nationwide. The Edge Community Technology Center in the Midtown Carnegie Branch offers free, instructor-led and tutorial classes in computer and software skills. The Edge also has a 3-D printer and a Media Lab for audio and video production for the public. The Funding and Business Information Center houses sources of grant funding for entrepreneurs and nonprofits as a member of the national Foundation Directory Online. The Library also has dozens of online databases including a language learning system, sign language instruction, business research, newspapers and magazine articles on a variety of topics

Programs

Daily preschool storytimes focus on the district's signature early literacy program, Racing to Read, at the branches and offsite. ‘Tween and teen activities encourage creative expression; and all ages are welcome to the annual Summer Reading Program, live concerts, book discussions, live theater, art exhibits.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webster County, Missouri</span> County in Missouri, United States

Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,085. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greene County, Missouri</span> County in Missouri, United States

Greene County is located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915. making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian County, Missouri</span> County in Missouri, United States

Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after Christian County, Kentucky, which in turn is named for William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield, Missouri</span> City in Missouri, United States

Springfield is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 487,061 in 2022 and includes the counties of Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, and Webster, The city sits on the Springfield Plateau of the Ozarks, which ranges from nearly-level to rolling hills. Springfield is the second-largest urban area in the Ozarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh</span> Public library system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the public library system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its main branch is located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and it has 19 branch locations throughout the city. Like hundreds of other Carnegie libraries, the construction of the main library, which opened in 1895, and several neighborhood branches, was funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The Pittsburgh area houses the first branches in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield metropolitan area, Missouri</span> Metropolitan Statistical Area in Missouri, United States

The Springfield, Missouri, metropolitan area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in southwestern Missouri, anchored by the city of Springfield, the state's third largest city. Other primary population centers in the metro area include Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Bolivar, Marshfield and Willard. Currently, the city limits of Springfield reach the Nixa, and Ozark city limits at the Christian County line on US 160, and US 65 respectively, the city limits of Republic at James River Freeway on the southwest side of the city, and the Strafford city limits on Route 744 on the northeast side of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-Continent Public Library</span> Public library system

Mid-Continent Public Library, officially known as Consolidated Library District #3, is a public library system serving Clay, Platte, and Jackson counties in Missouri, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron-Summit County Public Library</span> Library in Ohio, US

The Akron-Summit County Public Library is a public library system in Akron, Ohio. Founded in 1874, it operates the Main Library on South High Street and South Main Street in downtown Akron, 18 branch libraries located throughout the city of Akron and Summit County, the Akron Art Library, the Project LEARN of Summit County Training Room, Mobile Services, and Project LEARN of Summit County. As of 2013, they have a lion cub mascot, named Paws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland Public Library</span> Public library system in California, US

The Oakland Public Library is the public library in Oakland, California. Opened in 1878, the Oakland Public Library currently serves the city of Oakland, along with neighboring smaller cities Emeryville and Piedmont. The Oakland Public Library has the largest collection of any public library in the East Bay, featuring approximately 1.5 million items. It consists of a main library located in downtown Oakland, and 16 branch libraries throughout the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami-Dade Public Library System</span> Public library system in Florida

The Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) is a system of libraries in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Joplin Public Library District is the library services for Joplin, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toledo-Lucas County Public Library</span> Public library system in Ohio, U.S.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library is a public library system located in Toledo, Ohio, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma County Library District</span> Library system in Arizona, US

The Yuma County Library District (YCLD) serves the population of Yuma County, Arizona. Today, the library district consists of a Main Library located in Yuma as well as 7 branch libraries, which are located in downtown Yuma, the Foothills, Somerton, San Luis, Wellton, Dateland, and Roll. The first Yuma Library, a Carnegie library, opened February 24, 1921 with 1,053 volumes and seating for 20 persons. Located in Sunset Park, the Yuma Carnegie Library underwent several expansions and renovations over the years, including a $4.2 million renovation completed in 2009. The Yuma Carnegie library still operates today as the Heritage Branch Library in downtown Yuma.

The Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library System (THPL) is a public library system based in Hillsborough County, Florida. THPL is part of two larger library networks, the Tampa Bay Library Consortium, and the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative which includes Temple Terrace Public Library in Temple Terrace, Florida, and Bruton Memorial Library in Plant City, Florida. There are 33 branches of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. Services provided by the THPL include internet access, public meeting room spaces, interlibrary loans, a Bookmobile, a Cybermobile for Spanish speakers, technology classes, adult literacy programs, and downloadable eBooks. Drive-thru windows for returns and hold pick-ups are located at the Jimmie B. Keel and the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Libraries. In 2017, THPL introduced the new HAAL Pass, which gives access to certain library resources to all students in the Hillsborough County Public Schools System. Students use their student ID number to use different online databases, borrow up to three physical items and read eBooks. The Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library System is also a part of Hillsborough County government. On January 1, 2018, the library cooperative became one of the largest in the country to go fine free. Overdue fees for borrowed materials were eliminated with the implementation of the "Just Bring It Back" initiative. In 2019 the cooperative received the FLA Library of the Year Award. Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library was recognized for its community focused initiatives as it "reorganized its staffing model and eliminated overdue fines, yielding $1 million in savings while increasing access to library resources and expanding opportunities for community engagement through unique, scalable programs."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln School (Springfield, Missouri)</span> United States historic place

Lincoln School, also known as Lincoln Hall, Building A: Graft Vocational and Technical, Eastwood Junior High School, New Lincoln Colored School, is a historic school building located in Springfield, Missouri. The school was constructed in 1930. It has undergone multiple additions, but the main part of the original building remains intact. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolivar Public Library</span> United States historic place

Bolivar Public Library, also known as the Carnegie Library of Bolivar and Polk County Genealogical Society Library, is a historic Carnegie library located at Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri. It was built in 1915, and is a 1 1/2- to two-story, rectangular, brick building with Classical Revival style design elements. It has a flat roof and three bay front facade with an elaborate center entranceway and large side window bays. It features intact terra cotta and tooled limestone ornamentation. It was funded by an $8,000 Carnegie grant from the Carnegie Foundation. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easton Area Public Library</span> Public library in Easton, Pennsylvania

The Easton Area Public Library serves Easton, Pennsylvania in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It is a Carnegie library and was predated by a community library constructed by the Easton Library Company in 1811. With a grant in 1901 for $57,000 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie a new library began construction at 515 Church Street and was completed in 1903.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Traction Company</span> Past operator of Trams across Springfield Metro

Springfield Traction Company was a company that operated surface Horse, Steam, and Electric Trams and Streetcars across the Springfield Metro from around 1869 to August 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Library (Columbus, Ohio)</span> Columbus, Ohios main lending library

The Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) system is located in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States. The public library is the largest in the library system and holds approximately 300,000 volumes. It includes numerous rooms, including separate spaces for children, teens, an adult reading room, newspaper room, auditorium, gallery, gift shop, and a cafe. The third floor includes a computer lab and houses the Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society.

References

  1. ↑ "Library Board Approves Conservative 2018-2019 Budget". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
  2. ↑ "Library Board of Trustees". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  3. ↑ "History of the Library". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  4. ↑ O'Dell, Kathleen (October 31, 1999). "Main Library renovation coming next year". Springfield News Leader. ProQuest   911563801.
  5. ↑ "History of the Library". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  6. ↑ "Library Locations and Hours". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.