Waterloo Public Library | |
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| Location | 528 W. 4th St. Waterloo, Iowa |
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| Coordinates | 42°29′32.3″N92°20′36.8″W / 42.492306°N 92.343556°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | J.G. Ralston |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000342 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1983 |
The Waterloo Public Library is a historic building located in Waterloo, Iowa, United States. The public library was established there in 1896. [2] It operated out of two rented rooms, one on the east side of the Cedar River and other on the west side. The Carnegie Foundation agreed to grant the community $21,000 to build this building and a similar amount for the east side branch on April 11, 1902. [3] Waterloo architect J.G. Ralston designed both buildings in the Neoclassical style. They were both dedicated on February 23, 1906. The single-story brick structure has a projecting entrance pavilion capped with a triangular pediment that is supported by Ionic columns. Also noteworthy are the corner piers that feature bands of brick squares set into the stone. [4] In 1977 voters in Waterloo approved a $3,650,000 bond referendum to renovate the city's 1938 post office and federal building to house the library. [2] The post office vacated the building in 1979 when it relocated. The old library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. [1] It now houses law offices.
