Clinton Public Library - Clinton, Iowa
Posted by: 
ManGenGho
N 41° 50.274 W 090° 11.468
15T E 733223 N 4635593
Clinton Public Library, Clinton, Iowa
Waymark Code: WM1KK1
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 05/27/2007
Views: 67
Taken from the website: (
visit link)
At the turn of the century, the desire for a Free Public Library was growing. Andrew Carnegie was providing funds for libraries across the country and the citizens of Clinton hoped that they too would be a benefactor. On May 15, 1901, Mayor George D. McDaid wrote to Carnegie requesting funds for the library building. Mr. Carnegie responded with a sum of $30,000. After brief negotiations, this was increased to $45,000 with the provision that the citizens provide an acceptable site and operating budget of not less then 10% of the stipend.
After the voters approved the establishment of a free public library on March 31, 1902, the library organization ordinance was passed by the City Council at its regular meeting on May 13, 1902. On May 23, 1902, Mayor E. A. Hughes' nominees to the first Library Board of Trustees were approved by City Council. The land where the library is currently located was donated to the city by Emma Lamb Young. Ground was broken on June 24, 1903 and construction was completed one year later in June 1904. The day Theodore Roosevelt was elected to his second term, the library opened its doors to the public for the grand showing. On November 9, the library allowed the public to check out books. The library was open for 18 days in the month of November and 5,440 books were checked out. The next month showed that the library was open 26 1/2 days and 6,993 books were checked out.
At the end of 1904, there were 8,851 books, 31 magazine titles and 2,862 registered borrowers. Today the library has over 100,000 books, 325 magazines and over 2,500 different titles and types of non-print materials for over 15,000 registered borrowers.
November 9, 2004 will mark 100 years of change and 100 years of serving the citizens of Clinton, Iowa and the surrounding area. The library belongs to the people of Clinton, created and supported by them and something that is a source of pride to the city of Clinton, Iowa.