Mrs. Groves’ first grade class from Main Street Elementary visits the Lansing Library in 1959.
By Reference Librarian Anne R.
This year National Library Week falls on April 8-14. The reference staff thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at the history of libraries in Lansing.
Ever since it was founded in the 1800s, Lansing has boasted some form of library. In the very early days people paid a subscription fee to borrow books, typically around ten cents a week. The first non-fee public library opened in 1882, when the Ladies Literary Society donated 3,000 books to the Central High School to be used for both students and the general public.
After outgrowing that space, the library was moved to the City Hall in 1897-in a secured room inside the jail! By the early 1900s it was clear that the library needed its own place. State Librarian Mary C. Spencer wrote a letter to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie asking for funding. When Carnegie agreed to provide $35,000 for a new building, the city furnished a site. That building, at the corner of W. Shiawassee and Capitol, opened in 1905. It still stands today on the edge of the Lansing Community College campus.
By the late 1950s, the library once again needed a larger space. In 1957, the Lansing Board of Education began working with citizens’ groups on plans for a modern building. A bond issue passed in 1961, and a site was chosen at the corner of Capitol and Kalamazoo.
The new library opened in June of 1964, with a distinctive white-tiled façade that featured logos from major publishers. Many of its services were new for the time: handicapped access, a collection of audio-visual items, and a drive-up window. Over the years more branches were added, including a bookmobile, a South Lansing branch, and a branch inside Foster Community Center.
For most of its history, the Lansing library system was funded by the public school system. By the 1990s the schools could no longer afford that expense. A plan was formed to create a district library system, which would merge the Lansing libraries with those in Ingham County. In 1997, voters approved a millage for this plan and the Capital Area District Library was born.
CADL now offers 13 different locations as well as a huge collection of books and eBooks, many outreach services, and the latest technologies. But our mission is the same as that of the earliest libraries-to provide access to ideas and information, support continuous learning, and enhance the quality of life in our communities. And that’s a great thing to celebrate!
The Capital Area District Library Reference Department is located at 401 S. Capitol Avenue in Lansing, MI. Contact them at 517-367-6346 or by e-mail at reference@cadl.org.
This was printed in the April 8, 2012 – April 21, 2012 Edition
