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Springfield-Greene County Library
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<p>Springfield-Greene County Library District (SGCL) is a <a href="/facts/Library/hvdQNTtS">library</a> system that operates in both <a href="/facts/Springfield%2c_Missouri/GRnmarYh">Springfield, Missouri</a> and <a href="/facts/Greene_County%2c_Missouri/1gL8CcCx">Greene County, Missouri</a>. Springfield and Greene County Libraries operated as separate entities until 1961, when the Greene County Library board began contracting services from the Springfield Public Library. Boards from both the Springfield Public Library and the Greene County Library decided that it would be more effective to operate as one entity and merged in 1971 becoming the Springfield-Greene County Library District. </p><p>The first library in the district was built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie in 1903 and served as the main district library until 1999 when the Library Center opened to accommodate district growth. The district is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Five of the members are appointed by the Springfield Mayor and the other four are appointed by the Greene County Commission for county representation. </p><p>The district is funded primarily through county property taxes, grants, private gifts and funds from The Library Foundation along with proceeds from two semi-annual books sales by the <a href="/facts/Friends_of_Libraries/rBXwwt01">Friends of the Library</a>. </p>