New Haven Free Public Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| New Haven Free Public Library | |
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| Location | New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
|---|---|
| Established | 1887 |
| Number of branches | 5 |
| Population served | 124,791 (New Haven, 2005) |
| Director | James Welbourne |
| Website | New Haven Free Public Library |
The New Haven Free Public Library is the public library system serving New Haven, Connecticut.
The system began in 1887 in a leased location but quickly outgrew its space. The Ives Memorial Library is the main branch of the system and is located on the New Haven Green. The neo-Georgian building was designed by Cass Gilbert and finished in 1911. This building was renovated and expanded in 1990.[1]
There are also neighborhood branches in Westville (Mitchell), Fair Haven, Dixwell (Stetson) and The Hill (Wilson).
Murals in the main library originated as Public Works Administration projects. Two lunettes in the main hall, designed by Bancel LaFarge of Mt. Carmel, Connecticut, depict scenes from New Haven's history. The Rip Van Winkle murals in the meeting room were painted in 1934 by a team of artists led by Salvatore DiNaio and Frank J. Rutkowski. There is also a set of stained glass windows in the Ives Library designed by David Wilson of South New Berlin, New York including circular and rectangular laylights as well as rectangular and half-round windows.[1]
