Mirror Lake Community Library

Built in 1915, the Mirror Lake Community Library (MLCL) was one of ten Florida libraries whose construction was funded in part by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Also known as the St. Petersburg Public Library or Carnegie Library, the MLCL was the city's first permanent home for a library and in 1915 represented the city's transformation from a rural community to a modern urban center with cultural institutions. The library is also an excellent and one of the earliest examples of Beau-Arts architecture in the city. It was built with buff-colored brick and features decorative cast concrete elements such as string courses, pilasters (columns), and a cornice. The library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing property of the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District, which is also listed on the register.

The city's library system originated in 1899 when the Christian Endeavor Society of the Congregational Church opened a small reading room in the Durant Building at Fourth Street and Central Avenue. Eventually, however, the Society closed the room due to lack of interest. In 1905, a group called the St. Petersburg Reading Room and Library Association opened another room in the Bussey Building on Central Avenue on September 4, 1905. By 1908, the reading room had moved to the Strowger Building at 420 Central Avenue but it had to close. In 1909, the room was reopened at the Mitchell Building at 401 Central Avenue and operated until the library was built in 1915.

The effort to obtain a grant from Andrew Carnegie began in 1908 when a library committee was assigned to the task. However, the committee did not make a serious attempt to secure funding. In 1912, city councilman Ralph Veillard started to negotiate with the Carnegie Corporation, which offered $12,500, but the city argued that amount was not enough. The Library and Municipal Advertising Commission made another attempt in 1913 and sent a representative to New York City to meet with officers of the Carnegie Corporation (he brought with him letters and city reports to support his request for a larger grant). The Corporation was persuaded and increased the grant offer to $17,500. The city approved of the grant in July 1914 and chose this property for its central location and close proximity to schools. The library was completed on September 11, 1915 and opened on December 1.

From 1951 to 1997 many additions and renovations were made to the library to modernize it. By the end of the 1980s, the wing added in 1951 was replaced. Much of the 1915 architecture has been preserved. 

Hansen, Howard. "St. Petersburg Public Library." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 13, 1986. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/86001259.

Jones, Theodore (1997). Carnegie Libraries Across America. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Bobinski, George (1969).

"Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development. American Library Association." Williamson, E. (1994, January 10). Event to Mark Library’s Inner Renewal Series: CHECK IT OUT. St. Petersburg Times, pp. 3-D.