Ryerson Library

The Ryerson Building was the first permanent home of the Grand Rapids Library. The city's library had previously been housed in commercial buildings and later on the second floor of the city hall, even though that space was deemed inadequate even before the facility moved there.^[1] Andrew Carnegie pledged $150,000 to support the new facility, but the building was named for its other donor, Martin A. Ryerson, a Grand Rapids native.^[2][3] The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1902 and the building opened October 5, 1904.^[1][4]

In 1966, work began to expand the structure.^[5] In 1967, the library more than doubled in size with the addition of The Keeler Wing more than doubled the size of the building. Work also included renovations of the Ryerson Building.^[6]

In 2001, the library board sought bids to renovate both buildings in anticipation of the Ryerson's upcoming centennial in 2004.^[7]

• "Grand Rapids Public Library (Ryerson Library)". Society of Architectural Historians. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

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