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March 2011
Edward Jones Donates $150,000 to Downtown Central Library Project
Gift to support $70M revitalization of St. Louis Public Library’s Largest Branch
ST. LOUIS – Today, the St. Louis Public Library Foundation announced a $150,000 gift from Edward Jones to the Foundation’s Central To Your World capital campaign. The gift was announced by Rick Simoncelli, president of the St. Louis Public Library Foundation.
“We are pleased to be able to contribute to the restoration of St. Louis’ phenomenal downtown Central Library,” said Jim Weddle, Managing Partner, Edward Jones. “This facility is one of the real ‘treasures’ in downtown St. Louis and all of us at Edward Jones are proud to play a role in its revitalization.”
Originally opened in 1912, Central Library was designed by Cass Gilbert and built with funds from Andrew Carnegie and the citizens of St. Louis. The St. Louis Public Library’s massive 4.7 million-piece collection was moved off-site and staff was relocated earlier this year to make way for construction crews. Central Library closed in mid-June and is expected to re-open in late 2012. Meanwhile, book lending and all other library services continue to be available during construction through the St. Louis Public Library’s 15 other locations.
Phase I involved the removal of seven stories of shelving and flooring, referred to as the “stack,” an area which is being transformed into the new Locust Street Atrium entrance. Currently, the interiors of Central Library are coming to life through expanded public spaces, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, restoration of original floors, walls and ceilings, and enhanced lighting. The new Central Library will feature a 65 percent increase in public spaces, enhanced technology, a cafe, new displays and a new 244-seat auditorium on the lower level. Also, the St. Louis Public Library is taking this opportunity to further digitize major portions of its collection.
The capital campaign for the St. Louis Public Library, Central To Your World, is a $20 million philanthropic effort to support the $70 million total restoration and revitalization of the main library, which occupies a full city block between Locust and Olive Streets, and 13th and 14th Streets downtown. Alison Nichols Ferring and Thomas F. Schlafly serve as the campaign’s co-chairpersons.
“We are very grateful to Edwards Jones for this major gift and generous support of this important downtown project,” added Simoncelli. “Their gift, along with donations from other St. Louis corporations, businesses, foundations and individuals, is making it possible to restore what many consider to be one of America’s finest architectural treasures.”
The construction team includes CLR LLC, development consultant; Cannon Design, architect; and BSI Constructors, construction manager. Central Library is among the largest construction projects in downtown St. Louis and is being funded through library resources, bond financing, tax credits and the St. Louis Public Library Foundation’s capital campaign.
About Edward Jones
Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients to understand their personal goals -- from college savings to retirement -- and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today.
Edward Jones, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.
About the St. Louis Public Library
Ranked #2 in the nation, the St. Louis Public Library has 16 locations across the city and sees more than 2.3 million visitors each year. The Library has more than 4.7 million books and items in its collection and more than 83,000 library cardholders. For more information about the St. Louis Public Library and its services, visit
About the St. Louis Public Library Foundation
Created in 1989, the Library Foundation supports the St. Louis Public Library's programs and services through fundraising and building relationships with others who share a passion for the library's work. For information or to learn how you can support Central Library, visit www.slplfoundation.org or call Rick Simoncelli at 314.539.0360.
