Provo City Library
Encyclopedia
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
. After a remodeling process, it was rededicated as the Provo City Library on September 8, 2001.
. Over the years, the library grew in size, by obtaining approximately 65,000 volumes and 125 periodical subscriptions.
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 and then on September 8, 2001 the library began full operations.
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 the 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. 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. Fundraising and restoration efforts were spearheaded by BYU professor L. Douglas Smoot, who gained the moniker "the man who saved Academy Square." Construction was completed in 2001 and the project succeeded to what is now known as the Provo City Library.
The library hosts many events and programs for the community:
on University Avenue and 550 North.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
serving residents of Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. 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
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. 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 CarnegieAndrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. Over the years, the library grew in size, by obtaining approximately 65,000 volumes and 125 periodical subscriptions.
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 and then on September 8, 2001 the library began full operations.
History of Academy Square
Karl G. Maeser
-Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival....
, designed the building with the help of Don Carlos Young
Don Carlos Young
Joseph Don Carlos Young was an American architect and the Church Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1887 until 1893. In 1893, the office of Church Architect was dissolved , Young thereafter practiced privately with the LDS Church as a frequent client...
as the 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. 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. Fundraising and restoration efforts were spearheaded by BYU professor L. Douglas Smoot, who gained the moniker "the man who saved Academy Square." Construction was completed in 2001 and the project succeeded to what is now known as the Provo City Library.
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 4 DVD's. All items are renewable one time as long as there is no one on the waiting list for that specific item.The library hosts many events and programs for the community:
- "Teen and Adult Summer Reading Program" and "Children's Summer Reading Program - Reading programs to encourage people to read throughout the summer months.
- "AuthorLink - AuthorLink brings exciting, well-known authors to present at the Provo Library. Local and national authors are featured and have included: Brandon Mull, Carol Lynch Williams, Ally Condie, and Markus Zusak (March, 2011).
- "Teen Book Fest @ PCL - The Teen Book Fest celebrates literature for young adults and those who read, write, and enjoy it! The Teen Book Fest in October, 2010 featured author Scott Westerfeld.
- "Family Literacy Symposium" - Each January the Family Literacy Symposium features keynote speakers, authors and literacy experts. The Symposium aims to give community members tools to promote literacy at home and at school. The featured speaker at the Family Literacy Symposium in January, 2011 was Leif Enger.
- "Fairy Tea" - Fairy Tea is a popular formal tea party where young girls (and some adults) dress up as fairies. While some view it as a "mother-daughter" event (given the theme), fathers/brothers/etc., are also welcome. The only limitations are that all guests must be over the age of 3, wear a fairy costume or Sunday best, and be in possession of a ticket. Tickets are sold a few weeks in advance. There is an initial "priority" sale to library cardholders; remaining tickets (if any) are offered to the general public two days later.
- "Learn It" - Learn It is a monthly series of free classes about a variety of topics. The classes are offered in partnership with Utah State Extension Services and other community organizations.
Location
Provo City Library is located in ProvoProvo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
on University Avenue and 550 North.