Waterloo Public Library (West Branch)

Waterloo Public Library
Waterloo Public Library (West Branch) is located in Iowa
Waterloo Public Library (West Branch)
Waterloo Public Library (West Branch) is located in the United States
Waterloo Public Library (West Branch)
Location528 W. 4th St.
Waterloo, Iowa
Coordinates42°29′32.3″N 92°20′36.8″W / 42.492306°N 92.343556°W / 42.492306; -92.343556
Arealess than one acre
Built1905
ArchitectJ.G. Ralston
Architectural styleClassical Revival
MPSPublic Library Buildings in Iowa TR
NRHP reference No.83000342[1]
Added to NRHPMay 23, 1983

The Waterloo Public Library is a historic building located in Waterloo, Iowa, United States. The public library was established there in 1896.[2] It operated out of two rented rooms, one on the east side of the Cedar River and other on the west side. The Carnegie Foundation agreed to grant the community $21,000 to build this building and a similar amount for the east side branch on April 11, 1902.[3] Waterloo architect J.G. Ralston designed both buildings in the Neoclassical style. They were both dedicated on February 23, 1906. The single-story brick structure has a projecting entrance pavilion capped with a triangular pediment that is supported by Ionic columns. Also noteworthy are the corner piers that feature bands of brick squares set into the stone.[4] In 1977 voters in Waterloo approved a $3,650,000 bond referendum to renovate the city's 1938 post office and federal building to house the library.[2] The post office vacated the building in 1979 when it relocated. The old library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1] It now houses law offices.

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "History". Waterloo Public Library. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  3. ^ "Carnegie Libraries of Iowa Project-Waterloo Public Library (West Side)". University of Iowa. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  4. ^ Samuel J. Klingensmith. "Waterloo Public Library-West Branch". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-11-23. with photos