Ryerson Library

Not to be confused with Ryerson University Library or Ryerson & Burnham Libraries.

The Ryerson Building is the older wing of the main public library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

Ryerson Building
Ryerson Building
General information
Town or city	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Country	United States
Coordinates	42.96462°N 85.66594°W / 42.96462; -85.66594
Opened	October 1904
Renovated	2004
Owner	Grand Rapids Public Library
Website
Grand Rapids Public Library

History

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]