The Lexington Public Library opened in 1905 in Lexington, Kentucky. It incorporated the collection of the former Lexington Library Company (est.1801) and the former Transylvania Library (est.1795). Today the main location of the Lexington Public Library system is Central Library along East Main Street connected to Park Plaza Apartments.
The Library's facade includes rose-colored granite, with large windows facing the street and Phoenix Park. A rotunda in the lobby, the focal point of the building, spans all five floors and houses the world's largest ceiling clock and Foucault pendulum, designed by Lexington sculptor Adalin Wichman.[1] The rotunda also includes a frieze depicting the history of the horse in the Bluegrass. Included within the complex is the 138-seat Farish Theater, meeting rooms and an atrium reading lounge. An art gallery is located on the ground floor.
One of the areas for researchers is the Central Library's Kentucky Room, which houses Kentucky census records and numerous other genealogy and local history resources. It also contains microfilm of the Lexington Herald-Leader, as well as its forerunners, the Lexington Herald and the Lexington Leader, along with other local newspapers.
Central Library is complemented by five branch locations. The Northside Branch, located on Russell Cave Rd., replaced the previous Northside location in 2008.[2] The Tates Creek Branch, located on Walden Drive just off Tates Creek Rd., replaced the Lansdowne Branch in 2001.[3] The Eastside Branch, located on Blake James Dr. at Man o' War Blvd. and Palumbo Dr., replaced the Eagle Creek Branch in 2016.[4] The Beaumont Branch, located on Fieldstone Way just off Harrodsburg Rd., replaced the Southside Branch in 1997.[5] The Marksbury Family Branch, located on Versailles Rd. at Village Dr., replaced the Village Branch in 2024.[6] It boasts the distinction of being an English-Spanish bilingual branch, with bilingual staff.
The original library, opened in 1905, was a Carnegie Library and its building survives today: it is used by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.
Ground was broken for the new library on June 3, 1987.[7] Then-Mayor Scotty Baesler noted that the new library project was the "most significant building in downtown." During the preliminary renderings of the structure, it was compared to a "warehouse" and a "jail" due to its unappealing facade;[8] this was soon corrected when a granite facade was installed.
Construction began on the new library during the rising of Park Plaza. The cost of the 108,000 sq ft (10,000 m2). facility was $10 million. Enough space was reserved during the planning stages of the library that it withstand expansion for 20 to 30 years. The unfilled space was leased to the University of Kentucky.
lexington, public, library, opened, 1905, lexington, kentucky, incorporated, collection, former, lexington, library, company, 1801, former, transylvania, library, 1795, today, main, location, system, central, library, along, east, main, street, connected, park. The Lexington Public Library opened in 1905 in Lexington Kentucky It incorporated the collection of the former Lexington Library Company est 1801 and the former Transylvania Library est 1795 Today the main location of the Lexington Public Library system is Central Library along East Main Street connected to Park Plaza Apartments Central LibraryThe rotunda at the main library showing the Foucault pendulum designed by Adalin Wichman 1 The Library s facade includes rose colored granite with large windows facing the street and Phoenix Park A rotunda in the lobby the focal point of the building spans all five floors and houses the world s largest ceiling clock and Foucault pendulum designed by Lexington sculptor Adalin Wichman 1 The rotunda also includes a frieze depicting the history of the horse in the Bluegrass Included within the complex is the 138 seat Farish Theater meeting rooms and an atrium reading lounge An art gallery is located on the ground floor One of the areas for researchers is the Central Library s Kentucky Room which houses Kentucky census records and numerous other genealogy and local history resources It also contains microfilm of the Lexington Herald Leader as well as its forerunners the Lexington Herald and the Lexington Leader along with other local newspapers Central Library is complemented by five branch locations The Northside Branch located on Russell Cave Rd replaced the previous Northside location in 2008 2 The Tates Creek Branch located on Walden Drive just off Tates Creek Rd replaced the Lansdowne Branch in 2001 3 The Eastside Branch located on Blake James Dr at Man o War Blvd and Palumbo Dr replaced the Eagle Creek Branch in 2016 4 The Beaumont Branch located on Fieldstone Way just off Harrodsburg Rd replaced the Southside Branch in 1997 5 The Marksbury Family Branch located on Versailles Rd at Village Dr replaced the Village Branch in 2024 6 It boasts the distinction of being an English Spanish bilingual branch with bilingual staff Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editThe original library opened in 1905 was a Carnegie Library and its building survives today it is used by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning Ground was broken for the new library on June 3 1987 7 Then Mayor Scotty Baesler noted that the new library project was the most significant building in downtown During the preliminary renderings of the structure it was compared to a warehouse and a jail due to its unappealing facade 8 this was soon corrected when a granite facade was installed Construction began on the new library during the rising of Park Plaza The cost of the 108 000 sq ft 10 000 m2 facility was 10 million Enough space was reserved during the planning stages of the library that it withstand expansion for 20 to 30 years The unfilled space was leased to the University of Kentucky See also editCityscape of Lexington KentuckyReferences edit a b Lexington artist Adalin Wichman known for her work and wit dies at 91 12 March 2013 Herald Leader Lexington 5 April 2013 New library has high tech checkout Northside branch set to open Friday 11 September 2008 Herald Leader Lexington 5 February 2013 New homes for tomes 23 January 2001 Herald Leader Lexington 9 March 2006 Lexington Public Library to open new branch near Hamburg close Eagle Creek 11 June 2014 Herald Leader Lexington 14 July 2014 Book lovers love new Beaumont Branch Library 9 December 1997 Herald Leader Lexington 9 March 2007 Musgrave Beth March 1 2024 New Versailles Road library in Lexington to open March 9 Lexington Herald Leader Retrieved March 1 2024 Upbeat ceremony downtown ground broken for Central Library 3 June 1987 Herald Leader Lexington 10 November 2006 Honeycutt Valarie Planned exterior of library questioned 26 June 1986 Herald Leader Lexington 10 November 2006 Further reading editTimothy M Harris A source of useful information the Lexington Library 1795 1810 Kentucky Libraries 65 no3 Summer 2001External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lexington Public Library Official website38 2 43 N 84 29 48 W 38 04528 N 84 49667 W 38 04528 84 49667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lexington Public Library amp oldid 1211318556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
