Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois)

Ayer Public Library
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	200 Locust St., Delavan, Illinois
Coordinates	40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W / 40.37417; -89.54694Coordinates: 40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W / 40.37417; -89.54694
Area	less than one acre
Built	1914 (1914)
Built by	Lillibridge, Ray
Architect	Simmons, A.T.
Architectural style	Classical Revival
MPS	Illinois Carnegie Libraries MPS
NRHP reference No.	98001352[1]
Added to NRHP	November 12, 1998

The Ayer Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 200 Locust Street in Delavan, Illinois. 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 the same year; 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.^[2]

The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1998.^[1]

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