Ryerson Library
{{Short description|Older wing of the main public library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States}}
{{distinguish|Ryerson University Library|Ryerson & Burnham Libraries}}
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{{Infobox building
| name = Ryerson Building
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| image = GR Library.jpg
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| caption = Ryerson Building
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| owner = Grand Rapids Public Library
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| location_town = Grand Rapids, Michigan
| location_country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|42.96462|-85.66594|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
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| opened_date = October 1904
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| renovation_date = 2004
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| website = [http://www.grpl.org/ Grand Rapids Public Library]
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The Ryerson Building is the older wing of the main public library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.
History
The Ryerson Building was the first permanent home of the Grand Rapids Library. The city's library had previously been housed in commercial buildings and later on the second floor of the city hall, even though that space was deemed inadequate even before the facility moved there.{{cite news| title=Placing the Cornerstone of the Library| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-cornerstone-laid/168469742/| date=July 4, 1902| newspaper=The Evening Press| page=1| access-date=March 20, 2025}} Andrew Carnegie pledged $150,000 to support the new facility, but the building was named for its other donor, Martin A. Ryerson, a Grand Rapids native.{{cite news| title=Solved It: Andrew Carnegie Will Aid Grand Rapids| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-solved-it-andrew/167913901/| newspaper=The Evening Press| date=February 14, 1901| page=1}}{{cite news| title=His Agent Here| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-his-agent-here-m/160744044/| newspaper=The Evening Press| date=March 8, 1901| page=1| access-date=March 20, 2025}} The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1902 and the building opened October 5, 1904.{{cite web| title=History of the Library| url=https://www.grpl.org/about/grpl-history/| access-date=February 8, 2024| website=Grand Rapids Public Library}}
In 1966, work began to expand the structure.{{cite news| title=Steeple 'Breaks Ground' for Library| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-groundbreaking-fo/168471327/| date=May 21, 1966| newspaper=Grand Rapids Press| page=1}} In 1967, the library more than doubled in size with the addition of The Keeler Wing more than doubled the size of the building. Work also included renovations of the Ryerson Building.{{cite news| title=Library Seeks $222,150 To Finish Construction| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-library-seeks-fun/168471617/| page=1| newspaper=Grand Rapids Press| date=May 16, 1967}}
In 2001, the library board sought bids to renovate both buildings in anticipation of the Ryerson's upcoming centennial in 2004.{{cite news| title=Lowest bid to renovate library tops plans; design changes likely| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-grand-rapids-libr/168472848/| page=D3| first=Morgan| last=Jarema| date=January 29, 2001| newspaper=Grand Rapids Press}}
References
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External links
- {{cite web | title=Grand Rapids Public Library (Ryerson Library) | url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-KT14 | access-date=February 8, 2024 | publisher=Society of Architectural Historians}}
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Category:Library buildings completed in 1904
Category:Library buildings completed in 1967
Category:Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Category:Public libraries in Michigan
Category:Buildings and structures in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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