History
The creation of Bryan-Bennett Library is the story of a friendship between a wealthy tea merchant, Philo S. Bennett of Connecticut, and a political leader whom he admired, William Jennings Bryan. After Bennett’s death in 1903, his estate provided $1,500 for the erection of a library upon the ground where Bryan was born. Mr. Bryan matched this money, and construction of the first Bryan-Bennett Library building (on South Broadway) was completed in 1909. Mr. Bryan delivered his lecture, The Price of a Soul, in Salem as a benefit for the Library, netting $660.01. Again, Mr. Bryan matched the proceeds from the benefit, and the money was used to buy the Library’s first books.
In 1913, the Library was reorganized, according to the Illinois Library Statute, so that a tax could be levied in support of the Library’s operation.
Over the next few decades, the Library thrived at its South Broadway location, and the Board of Trustees initiated a search for a new site. The former WPA Post Office on Main Street was purchased and renovated. The Library moved into that building in 1986.
During the following 22 years, Bryan-Bennett flourished. Programming grew; the collection grew; and Internet services were introduced. Because the Library Board of Trustees saw so many new ways that Bryan-Bennett could serve the community, the Trustees negotiated the purchase of the shuttered Central School, located two blocks south of the Main Street site. The Library renovated the school building and moved to that location, 315 South Maple, in August 2008. Since that time, Library usage and local interest in the Library has crescendoed.
Joe and Anna Hale
The Library’s move to 315 South Maple was made possible through a generous gift from the late Joe and Anna Hale. When Mrs. Hale died in 1995, the Hale estate donated $444,000 to Bryan-Bennett Library. Over the years, the Library has used a portion of this money to fund some operational expenses. However, the bulk of this money was kept in reserve, until it could be used to expand services. When the Library Trustees secured the opportunity to purchase Central School, Mr. and Mrs. Hale’s gift ensured that the Library had the funding for this tremendous opportunity. All of the ways that the Library is now able to serve the community are the selfless and inspiring legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Hale.