The Ayer Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 208 Locust Street in Delavan, Illinois.
History The library was the city's fifth attempt at forming a library; it succeeded and assumed the collection of a library founded in 1902 by the Blue Button Army temperance organization. When the Blue Button library closed in 1907, supporter Amos K. Ayer called for the city to establish a permanent public library.
With Ayer's financial backing, a library for all citizens of Delavan Township was approved in 1907; however, it used a temporary space and lacked a permanent home until the city applied to the Carnegie Foundation for assistance in 1912. After a protracted misunderstanding with James Bertram, who expected a city library tax and did not understand that the township provided tax support, the Foundation provided a $10,000 grant for the library and construction began in 1914. The Classical Revival library opened later in the year; it remains open to this day.
The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1998.
References
External links
Official website