Grand Rapids Public Library
 | |
| Established | 1871 |
|---|---|
| Location | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Branches | 8 |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 197,000 |
| Other information | |
| Staff | 170 |
| Website | http://www.grpl.org |
The Grand Rapids Public Library located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan and also includes seven branch libraries throughout the city. The library system has 170 full and part-time employees and has a service area of roughly 197,000 people.
History
The Grand Rapids Public Library was founded in 1871 and was located within the Grand Rapids City Hall. In 1904, the library moved to the Ryerson building which served as a permanent home for the library. The building was a gift from arts and education benefactor, and native son, Martin A. Ryerson. In 1967, the library expanded to more than double in size. The addition was named the Keeler wing, in honor of a $1.2 million gift from Mike and Mary Ann Keeler. In 2001, renovation began that forced the library to operate out of a nearby warehouse. The library was able to move back to 111 Library St. NE in 2003.
Locations
| Branch | Address |
|---|---|
| Main Library | 111 Library St. NE |
| Madison Square Branch | 1201 Madison SE |
| Ottawa Hills Branch | 1150 Giddings SE |
| Seymour Branch | 2350 Eastern SE |
| Van Belkum Branch | 1563 Plainfield NE |
| West Leonard Branch | 1017 Leonard NW |
| West Side Branch | 713 Bridge NW |
| Yankee Clipper Branch | 2025 Leonard NE |
External links
- Grand Rapids Public Library Official Website
- Evergreen Online Card Catalog
- Photos of the Main Library on Flickr
- GRPLteens MySpace page
Coordinates: 42°57′54″N 85°39′57″W / 42.9649°N 85.6659°W