The Delaware Public Library is a former public library in Delaware, Ohio. The building was funded by Andrew Carnegie and built in the neoclassical style. It opened to the public in 1906.
The library's collection of books and volumes rapidly expanded during its operational history. By the 1970s, the Delaware Public Library started to run out of space. In 1984, a new public library was constructed, and Delaware County, Ohio started using the Delaware Public Library for office space. The building was tripled in size during a construction and restoration project that lasted from 1999 to 2001. The Delaware Public Library is currently used to house a number of Delaware County agencies, including the Delaware County Board of Commissioners.
The Delaware Public Library was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of the building's architectural significance.
Background Carnegie library program
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a steel magnate and philanthropist.Armentrout, p. vii He was born in Scotland to an impoverished family and dropped out of school at the age of twelve. Carnegie immigrated to Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1848, and worked in a textile mill and later at Pennsylvania Railroad as a telegraph operator. Carnegie never returned to school, but a local resident allowed Carnegie limited access to his private library. Influenced by his life experience, Carnegie promised that he would fund libraries for members of the working class. Carnegie would go on to invest his earnings in business ventures, and started opening steel mills in the 1870s.
From 1881 to 1919, Carnegie gave away 56 million dollars to build libraries. His grants paid for 1,689 libraries in the United States and an additional 820 libraries across the English speaking world. Within the state of Ohio, Carnegie funded 111 libraries.Armentrout, p. iv In order to receive funding, a town needed to provide to provide land for the library and agree to fund the libraries operations; Carnegie's grant paid only for the physical building.Armentrout, p. iii Prior to Carnegie's programs, public libraries were frequently fee based and tended to move locations; many communities were unable to fund their fledgling library systems or to provide a permanent home. Carnegie's grants and maintenance requirements fueled the growth of public libraries across the United States.
History of the public library system in Delaware County Delaware County, Ohio was founded in February 1808 while Delaware, Ohio was founded in March 1808.Lytle, pp. 104-105 Since its creation, Delaware city has served as the county seat of Delaware county.Lytle, p. 105. During Delaware city's early history, there were numerous attempts to create a public library system.Lytle, p. 212 A corporation for establishing a public library in Delaware, Ohio was formed in 1855, but failed to accomplish its goal. A number of other proposals for a public library were created in the following decades, but these were also unsuccessful.Galbreath, p. 178
The Delaware County library system originated from a late-19th century women's book club, which initially had twenty-six members and a private library of thirty-six volumes.Buckingham, p. 334 The book club formed a library association in 1897. The club's volume collection was intermediately housed in a doctor's home, a jewelry stored and a rented room. In 1898, the book club re-organized as "The Delaware City Library Association", and focused on creating a library and a reading room. That year, two Delaware residents began planning the design of a Masonic temple; the temple included space for a library and reading room that was offered to the Library Association. On February 23, 1899, the Library Association accepted the offer, and formally incorporated.Buckingham, p. 335 The Library Association raised funds to heat, light and furnish the room, and to purchase up to date library equipment. The Masonic temple library room was opened to the public on April 5, 1900. The library contained 910 books and volumes when opened, and became immediately eligible for financial support from tax payers. The library collection eventually grew to 1,359 books and volumes.
In early 1902, a citizen of Delaware, Ohio submitted an application for a Carnegie library; the application was accepted on December 24 of that year. The Delaware City Council assumed responsibility for the construction of the library during a January 1901 meeting. The city council took a year to pick the location of the new library and to approve grants to purchase the land. Construction started in the fall of 1904, and concluded in 1906.Armentrout, p. 71 The city held a dedication ceremony for the Delaware Public Library on September 1, 1906. The ceremony included a duet, performances by an orchestra and speeches by the mayor, the head of the Library's Board of Trustees and a professor from Ohio Wesleyan University. The public was also allowed to tour the library. The Delaware Public Library officially opened on September 4, 1906.
Description
The Delaware Public Library was designed in the style of classical Roman architecture. The structure originally consisted of a main hall and two wings,"Delaware's New Library Opened". Published in an unknown newspaper. 4 September 1906. On file with the Delaware County Genealogical Society as well as an attic and a basement."New Life for Carnegie Library" (May/June 2002). Clem Labine's Traditional Building. Volume 15/ Number 3. pp. 8–9. The library originally had an area of approximately 8,000 square feet, and was built on a 14,400 square foot lot to make room for future expansions.Galvin, p. 15
The library remained in use until 1984, when it was replaced by the newly constructed Delaware District Library, After 1984, Delaware County used the building for office space. From 1999-2001, Schooley Caldwell Associates (a Columbus preservation firm) expanded and restored the structure. The expansion tripled the size of the Delaware Public Library; most of the expansion occurred behind the original structure. Exterior The Delaware Public Library is built on an ashlar foundation and constructed of buff glazed brick.National Register of Historic Places, Delaware Public Library, Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, National Register #83001957. The exterior of the building is decorated with Bedford limestone trimming and copper cornices.
The library is entered by walking up a set of stairs leading to large, centrally located double doors. Two columns with Corinthian capitals flank the entrance. The words "Carnegie Library" and "Free to All" are carved above the entrance.
The library has a slanted hip roof. The roof was originally constructed of red tiles. However, the tiles were replaced with shingles in 1929.
Entrance and main hall The Delaware Public Library is entered through a corridor. The delivery counter was located about fifteen feet from the entrance; the library's stacks were located behind the delivery counter. Delaware County currently uses a replica of the circulation desk as a reception desk for visitors to the building.
A central rotunda with stained glass is located above the circulation desk. The rotunda was covered up by a drop ceiling in 1970 to lower heating costs. However, the drop ceiling was removed during the 1999-2001 renovation, while the rotunda was cleaned and given minor repairs.
In the main hall, all of the side walls within eight feet of the entrance have oak paneling; all of the remaining walls and the ceiling are decorated with green frescoes and gildings. The main hall's floor is constructed of white, green and yellow mosaic tiles.
Left wing
The left wing contained the Delaware Public Library's general reading room, which could be entered by passing through an arch that connected the west wing to the main hall. The reading room contained the library's newspaper and magazine collection, as well as the card catalog. The general reading room also contained Mission style furniture, as well as electric and gas lamps. The room's floors consisted of a wooden finish.
The directors' and librarian's office was located to the west of the general reading room. An alcove was located to the North of the reading room. The alcove contained a memorial to Delaware residents who had lost their lives during the Spanish–American War. The alcove also contained books on history and Americans wars. The Spanish–American War memorial was transferred to the Delaware District Library shortly after the newer building opened to the public.
The Delaware County Board of Commissioners currently uses the left wing as a meeting space.Hawes, Jane (13 March 1999). "Project Sheds Light on Architectural Gem". The Columbus Dispatch. News: p. 01B. Retrieved 23 August 2018 via Newsbank.com
Right wing The right wing originally contained a children's room and a reference room. The children's room contained books and magazines aimed towards children, as well as chairs and tables of varied sizes. The children's room has a wooden floor. The walls contain oak paneling, as well as columns and pilasters.
After taking possession of the Delaware Public Library, Delaware County used the children's room for cubicle space. Jane Hawes, writing for the Columbus Dispatch, stated that the cubicles clashed with the "elegant" design of the room. During the 1999–2001 renovation, the cubicles were removed and replaced by traditional furniture more harmonious to the room's design. Since the renovation, Delaware County has used the right wing of the building as a meeting space.
Miscellaneous changes to the library's design prior to 1999 A garage was added to the library to house the bookmobile, which entered usage in 1949. The library greatly increased its shelf space as its collections grew.
Additions during the 1999–2001 renovation During the 1999–2001 renovation, Schooley Caldwell Associates added an extra 14,800 square feet in area to the Delaware Public Library. The expansion largely occurred behind the original structure, and mainly consisted of additional office space. The new expansion can be entered from the original library, or from handicap accessible side-doors. An elevator and antenna were also included in the new office space. A basement, designed to survive bad weather and other disasters, was added beneath the expanded office space to house Delaware County's Emergency Medical Service, Emergency Management Association and Emergency Operation Center. Schooley Caldwell Associates also converted the library's attic into a second floor.
During the renovation, Schooley Caldwell Associates went to great efforts to preserve the original structure. For example, the firm left the library's original bricks exposed whenever possible. Additionally, the firm designed the new structure to be similar but distinguishable from the original library. The new structure uses bricks that match the color of the old structure's bricks, but the bricks and mortar are different and the mortar joints are thicker. Additionally, the new structure uses colored fiberglass cornices instead of copper cornices.
History Operational history The Delaware Public Library was initially only available to residents of Delaware city. However, non-city residents had the option of buying a three-year pass to gain access to the library.Gavin, p. 2 In 1949, the library started using a book mobile to deliver reading material. The bookmobile serviced locations throughout the county, particularly county schools. In 1951, the Delaware Public library became the county's main district library.Buckingham, p. 336 County residents gained access to the library, which became entirely funded by tax receipts. The city of Delaware initially retained ownership of the building itself;Delaware Chamber of Commerce, p. 8. Delaware City ultimately sold the library to Delaware County in 1982.