{"id":19141,"date":"2026-01-16T16:17:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/?p=19141"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:18:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:18:29","slug":"davenports-west-side-branch-fairmounts-20th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/2026\/01\/16\/davenports-west-side-branch-fairmounts-20th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Davenport’s West Side Branch: Fairmount’s 20th Anniversary!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On January 14, 2006, Davenport’s new library branch opened to the public! It was the first new addition to the Davenport Public Library’s facilities since the additions of the bookmobile and Annie Wittenmyer Branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Davenport Public Library desired to expand its services since the 1960s. With the 2001 Branching Out Campaign agreement between the City of Davenport, the Davenport Public Library’s Board of Trustees, and the Friends of the Davenport Public Library, this dream was coming to fruition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies were conducted as to where new library branches would best serve the Davenport citizens, as well as an estimate of how much new facilities would cost to build. It was determined that new libraries would be built in the west and the north\/central part of the city. The land for the new library branch was purchased in 2002. It was purchased from the Van Arnum family; it was their family’s farm land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Branching Out Campaign was supported by the 2003 tax levy, the City of Davenport’s Capital Improvement Plan, and the Friends of the Davenport Public Library. The tax levy passed on November 4, 2003 was to provide staff, to purchase collections, and to provide maintenance for the branches. The CIP funds would cover 60% of the funding required to build the new facilities, and the Friends would cover the remaining 40%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n