Provo City Library

Provo Library at Academy Square
Country United States
Type Public Library
Established 1905
Location 550 North University Avenue
Provo, Utah 84601
Other information
Director Gene Nelson
Website http://www.provolibrary.com/
References:
Brigham Young Academy
Coordinates 40°14′28″N 111°39′24″W / 40.24111°N 111.65667°W / 40.24111; -111.65667Coordinates: 40°14′28″N 111°39′24″W / 40.24111°N 111.65667°W / 40.24111; -111.65667
Architect Multiple
Architectural style Renaissance, Queen Anne, Educational
NRHP Reference # 76001839[1]
Added to NRHP January 1, 1976

The Provo City Library is a public library serving residents of Provo in the U.S. state of Utah. It occupies the building of the former Brigham Young Academy, which was built in 1892. In 1976, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1] After a remodeling process, it was rededicated as the Provo City Library on September 8, 2001.

History of Library

Provo City Library was founded in 1905. It first opened in the basement of the Provo City courthouse in October of that year and operated until 1908. During its operation in the courthouse, it acquired 1,425 books donated by individuals in the community. Soon after that, the collection doubled to 3000 volumes by April 1908. On December 1, 1908, the library moved into a new building provided by a grant of $17,500 from Andrew Carnegie. Over the years, the library grew in size, by obtaining approximately 65,000 volumes and 125 periodical subscriptions.[2]

In 1989, the library moved to another location, the City Center Building. Although it was bigger than before, it became inadequate within a couple of years.

In February 1997 a $16 million library bond passed which allowed the library to move to a bigger location. The bond helped preserve and renovate the historic Brigham Young Academy building, which the library then occupied. On July 9, 1999, city officials broke ground to initiate renovations for the new library. [3] On September 8, 2001 the library began full operations.[2]

History of Academy Square

The library building was the site of Brigham Young Academy.

The Brigham Young Academy was one of the largest school buildings in the western Rocky Mountain region. The Principal of the Academy, Karl G. Maeser, designed the building with the help of Don Carlos Young as architect. The Academy was located in Northern Provo. The name of the building has changed many times; in 1898, it was known as the High School Building, and in 1922 it was known as the Education Building, which it remained until 1968.

For the next 20 years, Academy Square remained vacant and slowly began to deteriorate. While real estate developers were eager to tear down the dilapidated buildings, Provo residents supported the preservation of the historic site.[4] In 1997, a municipal bond and private donations financed the renovation of the Education Building; the other three buildings on Academy Square were demolished to make room for a parking garage.[5] Fundraising and restoration efforts were spearheaded by BYU professor L. Douglas Smoot,[6] who gained the moniker "the man who saved Academy Square."[7] Construction was completed in 2001 and the project succeeded to what is now known as the Provo City Library.[2]

Facts

There are almost 285,000 books, magazines, and media in circulation available to Provo Library cardholders at the Provo City Library. The checkout period for all items is three weeks. There is no limit on the number of books, magazines, music, videocassettes or audio books that may be checked out; however, there is a maximum of 8 DVDs. All items are renewable one time as long as there is no one on the waiting list for that specific item.[8]

The library hosts many events and programs for the community:

Location

A statue of Brigham Young stands at the west-facing entrance of the Provo City Library.

Provo City Library is located on University Avenue and 550 North.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as Brigham Young Academy.[1][10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 "Academy History." 6 Aug 2008 <http://www.provo.lib.ut.us/academy.html>
  3. ↑ Hyde, Jesse. "Visitors are awed by new Academy Square library." Deseret News (2001): B05 <http://www.deseretnews.com/cgi-bin/cqcgi_plus/@plus.env?CQ_SESSION_KEY=WQPXEBSFMXYN&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1&CQ_TEXT_MAIN=YES>
  4. ↑ Romboy, Dennis (November 22, 1993), "59% WANT PROVO TO BUY OLD ACADEMY", Deseret News
  5. ↑ Rayburn, Jim (July 1, 1997), "Historic Provo building won't be razed", Deseret News
  6. ↑ Poyfair, Patrick D. (August 14, 1994), "ACADEMY SQUARE: IS HISTORIC SITE AN EYESORE OR AN ASSET?", Deseret News
  7. ↑ "BYU TO HONOR FIVE AT HOMECOMING", BYU Magazine (Summer 2006)
  8. ↑ "Borrowing Materials." 27 Feb 2011 <http://www.provolibrary.com/borrowing-materials>
  9. ↑ "Family Literacy Symposium." 27 Feb 2011 <http://www.provolibrary.com/family-literacy-symposium>
  10. ↑ Allen D. Roberts and June Hinkley (1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Brigham Young Academy / Brigham Young University Lower Campus" (PDF). National Park Service. and accompanying photos

Further reading

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