New Haven Free Public Library
Encyclopedia
The New Haven Free Public Library is the public library
system serving New Haven, Connecticut
.
The system began in 1887 in a leased location but quickly outgrew its space. The Ives Memorial Library is the main branch of the system and is located on the New Haven Green
. The neo-Georgian building was designed by Cass Gilbert
and finished in 1911. This building was renovated and expanded in 1990.
Murals in the main library originated as Public Works Administration
projects. Two lunettes in the main hall, designed by Bancel LaFarge of Mt. Carmel
, Connecticut, depict scenes from New Haven's history. The Rip Van Winkle
murals in the meeting room were painted in 1934 by a team of artists led by Salvatore DiNaio and Frank J. Rutkowski. There is also a set of stained glass
windows in the Ives Library designed by David Wilson of South New Berlin
, New York
including circular and rectangular laylights as well as rectangular and half-round windows.
There are also neighborhood branches in Westville
(Mitchell), Fair Haven
, Dixwell (Stetson) and The Hill (Wilson). The Wilson branch features an art installation by Leila Daw
depicting patterns of immigration
.
The library has hosted many programs for children and adults, such as the Create a Comic Project
.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
system serving New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The system began in 1887 in a leased location but quickly outgrew its space. The Ives Memorial Library is the main branch of the system and is located on the New Haven Green
New Haven Green
The New Haven Green is a privately owned park and recreation area located in the downtown district of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It comprises the central square of the nine-square settlement plan of the original Puritan colonists in New Haven, and was designed and surveyed by colonist...
. The neo-Georgian building was designed by Cass Gilbert
Cass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
and finished in 1911. This building was renovated and expanded in 1990.
Murals in the main library originated as Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
projects. Two lunettes in the main hall, designed by Bancel LaFarge of Mt. Carmel
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
, Connecticut, depict scenes from New Haven's history. The Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. Written while Irving was living in Birmingham, England, it was part of a collection entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon...
murals in the meeting room were painted in 1934 by a team of artists led by Salvatore DiNaio and Frank J. Rutkowski. There is also a set of stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows in the Ives Library designed by David Wilson of South New Berlin
New Berlin (town), New York
New Berlin is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 2,803 at the 2000 census.The Town of New Berlin contains a village named New Berlin...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
including circular and rectangular laylights as well as rectangular and half-round windows.
There are also neighborhood branches in Westville
Westville, Connecticut
Westville is a neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut located in the western part of the city west of the West River. The official neighborhood planning area for Westville is defined to be the area bordered by the neighboring town of Woodbridge, Connecticut on the west , by the Amity...
(Mitchell), Fair Haven
Fair Haven, Connecticut
Fair Haven is a neighborhood in the eastern part of the city of New Haven, Connecticut located between the Mill and Quinnipiac rivers. The northeast section of the neighborhood is also known as Chatham Square....
, Dixwell (Stetson) and The Hill (Wilson). The Wilson branch features an art installation by Leila Daw
Leila Daw
Leila Daw is an American installation artist and art professor; her work uses diverse materials to explore themes of cartography and feminism.-Life and work:...
depicting patterns of immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
.
The library has hosted many programs for children and adults, such as the Create a Comic Project
Create a Comic Project
The Create a Comic Project is a youth literacy program and webcomic created by John Baird. The program uses comics, many taken from the Internet, to encourage children to write their own narratives. The program began in November 2006 at the main branch of the New Haven Free Public Library as an...
.