Title: History of the Champaign Public Library and Reading Room Classic Reprint
Publisher: Forgotten Books
Publication Date: 2018
Language: English
ISBN 10: 026009384X
ISBN 13: 9780260093844
Binding: HRD
Condition: New
Weight: 273 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Discover how a growing public library built a lasting home in Champaign, supported by a transformative gift and steady community backing.

The story centers on the Burnham Athenaeum, a landmark funded by Albert C. Burnham’s gift to create a free public library. The deed and building plan laid out a home for reading, lectures, and access for residents, with annual city support and an endowment to purchase books. Over the years, the library expanded to include a children’s department, a reference stack, an auditorium, and dedicated staff who guided its growth.

Key developments include the creation of the Burnham Endowment Fund to enrich the collection, the addition of a branch network, and a steady rise in staff and services. The building’s design features a grand entrance with tall pillars, a central rotunda, and spaces dedicated to lending, reference work, and community use. These changes helped the library serve a broader city audience while preserving its mission as a public resource.

Origin of the Burnham gift and the formal Deed of Gift for the library site and funds
Establishment of endowments to sustain book purchases and long‑term growth
Growth of staff roles, from librarian to assistants and branch leadership
Physical layout and features of the Burnham Athenaeum building, plus facilities for children and lectures

Ideal for readers of local history and library history, this edition chronicles how a community shaped a public resource that endures today.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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