The St. Cloud Library then and now: 1) A drawing of the old Carnegie Library in St. Cloud.  2) Present day library on 4th Avenue. 3) Architect's drawing of the new St. Cloud Library which opens later this summer.

St. Cloud Library celebrates 125th Anniversary
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- The St. Cloud Public Library is celebrating it's 125th anniversary today (Friday).

Resource librarian Mark Troendle says the city has only had two dedicated library buildings in it's history.  It was in a hotel, until a fire destroyed the hotel in 1901.  Then Andrew Carnegie helped build the first library. 

The Carnegie building was on the corner where the Wells Fargo Bank currently sits in downtown St. Cloud.  Granite pillars from the first library are on display at the Stearns County History Museum.

They've been in their existing library since 1979. Of course, later this summer they'll move into their new library.

This (Friday) afternoon from 1:00 until 3:00 you can enjoy cake in front of the library, as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. 

From the city archives:
April 1883: The City Council adopted this resolution: "That a public library under the provisions of the general law of the state, be established to be known as the St. Cloud Public Library." This was the 7th public library created in Minnesota. On Friday, May 11, 1883, the Directors of the Library Association met to turn their library over to the new city board and then the Library Association adjourned permanently.