KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Officials cut the ribbon on a new library in the Argentine District on Wednesday – a joint project between the Kansas City Kansas School District and the local community that replaces a nearly century-old building.
The South Branch Library at 1304 Strong replaces the Argentine Library, which was built in 1917 thanks to a donation from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. The new library was built through a partnership between the school district and the community, who stepped up to raise nearly $2 million of the $6 million total cost through fundraising events and grants.
The new, 21,000 square-foot library – built on the site of a dilapidated former shopping center – is three times the size of the old library, and will have updated technology like laptops and e-readers.
There is no word on what will happen to the old library, which is actually listed on the Register of National Historic Buildings.