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History of Stewart Library
Grinnellians value libraries...
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a place for cultural enrichment, social interaction, and
the exchange of ideas...
the foundation of an informed citizenry.
Joel Stewart, a farmer, banker, and state legislator, built
the present library on land donated by the Congregational
Church Society. |
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Joel Stewart
1833 - 1918
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History of Stewart Library
Plans for the first public library in Grinnell grew out of
a mass meeting of citizens held in the Methodist Church in the
summer of 1894, just over sixty years after the establishment
of the first public library in the United States. Until 1901,
the Grinnell Free Library and the Reading Room occupied space
in the Morse Block and later in the Spaulding Block. In that
year, Joel Stewart, a farmer, banker, and state legislator,
offered to build the present library on land donated by the
Congregational Church Society.
The cornerstone was laid on May 7, 1901. Stewart himself helped
design and supervise the construction of the building. He visited
many other libraries to glean ideas, which may help explain
the many similarities between Carnegie libraries and Grinnell's
building. Mrs. Stewart presented the completed structure to
the City in a dedication ceremony on May 9, 1902.
Sixteen Library Directors have served in Grinnell since 1897,
all contributing to building a fine collection and a tradition
of service. Newspaper articles over the years report summer
reading programs for children, book clubs, lectures, and new
programs and services, demonstrating that the Library has always
been at the center of Grinnell's cultural life.
In 1976 the Library was listed in the National Register of Historic
Places, and the Board of Trustees embarked on a renovation plan
to restore original features of the building, to make the available
space more usable, and to provide handicapped access. The only
addition to the building was an elevator shaft and stairwell.
For safety and convenience, the stairs to the basement were
redesigned, changing the configuration of the inside entry area.
The exterior entrance, however, was restored to its original
appearance by rebuilding the wedding-cake style steps and replacing
the aluminum and glass doors that had been added with reproductions
of the original oak doors. The fireplaces, long covered by bookshelves,
were restored and the oak mantels rebuilt.
More work was done on the interior of the building in the late
90s to improve the children's area and accommodate added computer
workstations. The catalog and circulation system were automated
in 1998. As technology has changed by leaps and bounds and new
formats have proliferated, space has been needed for computers
and collections of audio and video materials, gradually reducing
the space for books and for studying, leisure reading, children's
programs, and families browsing and reading together.
In 1999, library consultant George Lawson worked with library
users, the Board of Trustees, and the Library staff to prepare
a needs assessment that described the kind of building Grinnell
will need in order to offer good library service now and for
20 years to come. Drake Community Library, located at 930 Park Street and designed by architects Meyer, Scherer
& Rockcastle, was opened for service on November 2, 2009. This new facility will give our community the range
of library collections and services that it deserves. |
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