The Peoria Public Library Board of Trustees has learned that Peoria Public Library Lincoln Branch, an original Carnegie Library in service for over 100 years, has been placed on The National Register of Historic Places.

                The designation joins a local landmark designation from the City of Peoria Historic Preservation Commission and recognition by The Central Illinois Landmark Foundation.

                “National Register designation of Lincoln Branch is a tremendous honor for Peoria Public Library and for Peoria as a whole.  It is a celebration of Andrew Carnegie’s generosity, a celebration of the Library’s stewardship of Lincoln Branch spanning more than a century, and a celebration of the magic that is created in a community when a structure of historic and architectural significance plays as important a role as a library does,” said Peoria Public Library Board of Trustee President Margaret Cousin.

According to the National Park Service website, “The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.”

In April of 2012 when Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation presented Peoria Public Library with two markers in recognition of “outstanding work” performed on Lincoln and McClure Branches during the Peoria Public Library $28 million renovation project, William Ordaz said that historic preservation impacts jobs and the economy, property values over the long term and heritage tourism.

Peoria Public Library Lincoln Branch, located at 107 N.E. Monroe Street, was built in 1910 with a $20,000 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie as part of his public library building program. The funding was tied to a requirement that the city receiving the funding levy a tax to support the library pre-construction. The city also had to furnish a building site and offered Lincoln Park, a full city block in the center of the bustling and growing Southside neighborhood. Lincoln Branch was the first branch library in the city although outreach services had been provided at Manual High School.

The recent capital building program included a renovation of the neo-classical masterpiece, together with adding a 12,000 foot addition on the rear of the building.  The addition is sheltered from the street view by a garden wall and links to the original Carnegie building with a glass corridor.

Lincoln Branch is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, although closed every Wednesday, and is open on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. The branch includes several meeting rooms, public computers, a computer lab and  a Storytime Room and serves a diverse community with full library service.