Carnegie library

A man named Andrew Carnegie gave money for libraries.

He wanted people to learn. He built many libraries in many lands.

Some were in Scotland. Many others were in the United States.

Towns had to help too. They had to pay for the books. They also had to keep the buildings clean.

Women helped a lot. They worked hard to start local libraries.

Some libraries were for Black people. This was in the South.

These libraries helped people read.

Many people still use them today. Reading is a wonderful way to grow.

Andrew Carnegie was a wealthy businessman. He believed that people who work hard deserve help to learn.

He used his money to build many libraries. Between 1883 and 1929, he helped build 2,509 libraries. Most of these were in the United States. Others were in places like Scotland, Canada, and New Zealand.

Carnegie had a special rule for towns. He did not just give money for the building. The town had to promise to pay for the books and the staff. They also had to pay for the upkeep of the building. This way, the library could stay open for a long time.

Women helped make these libraries a reality. Many women's clubs led the work in their towns. They raised money and asked leaders for support. In the Southern United States, Carnegie also funded libraries for Black people. These were built because Black people were often denied access to other libraries.

One such library was in Savannah, Georgia. It helped many people find books and learn.

A Carnegie library is a special kind of library. These buildings were made possible by money from Andrew Carnegie. He was a very wealthy businessman from Scotland who lived in America. Carnegie believed that people who work hard deserve help to learn. He wanted to help those who were ambitious and wanted to help themselves. Because of his gifts, thousands of towns gained a place to read and study.

Building these libraries followed a specific plan called the "Carnegie formula." Carnegie did not just give money and walk away. He required towns to make a promise to help. The local government had to provide a place for the building. They also had to pay for the staff and the books. Most importantly, the town had to pay ten percent of the building cost every year to keep it running. This ensured the library would stay open for many years.

This grand project began in the late 1800s. The very first library was in Dunfermline, Scotland, which was Carnegie's birthplace. It opened in 1883. The first library in the United States was in Braddock, Pennsylvania. It opened after being commissioned in 1887. In the beginning, most libraries were built near places Carnegie knew well. Later, he began to fund libraries in many other parts of the world.

Between 1883 and 1929, a total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built. Most of these, about 1,689, were located in the United States. He also built 660 libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Other countries like Canada, Australia, and South Africa received libraries too. In 1901, Carnegie offered over $2.5 million to build 125 libraries in Canada. His work helped nearly half of all the libraries in the United States at that time.

Many different people helped these libraries grow. Women's clubs were very important during this time. These clubs led the work to organize local efforts and raise money. They helped establish about 75 to 80 percent of the libraries in many communities. In the Southern United States, Carnegie also funded separate libraries for Black residents. This happened because Black people were often denied access to public libraries. One such library opened in Savannah, Georgia, in 1914.

A Carnegie library is a public building funded by Andrew Carnegie. He was a wealthy Scottish-American businessman and a major philanthropist. Carnegie believed in helping people who were industrious and ambitious. He did not want to give everything to those who needed it done for them. Instead, he wanted to help those who were able to help themselves. This philosophy drove him to fund thousands of libraries worldwide.

Most of these libraries followed a strict process called the "Carnegie formula." Carnegie did not simply hand over money to any town. He required local governments to make specific financial commitments. Towns had to demonstrate a real need for a library. They also had to provide the land for the building. Most importantly, the town had to pledge ten percent of the construction cost annually for maintenance. This ensured the library would remain a permanent part of the community.

James Bertram served as Carnegie's personal assistant starting in 1897. He managed the complex process of granting funds. When a town requested a library, Bertram sent a detailed questionnaire. He asked about the town's population and current book collections. He also checked if the town could afford the annual upkeep. This systematic approach allowed Carnegie's foundation to fund a massive increase in libraries starting in 1899.

The history of these libraries began in Carnegie's own home regions. The first public library was the Dunfermline Carnegie Library in Scotland. It was commissioned in 1880 and opened in 1883. In the United States, the first library was commissioned in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1886. The first to actually open in the U.S. was in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Braddock was also the site of a Carnegie Steel Company mill.

Between 1883 and 1929, a total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built. The vast majority, 1,689, were located in the United States. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, 660 libraries were constructed. Carnegie also funded 125 libraries in Canada. Other countries included Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and several others. By the end of his program, Carnegie had funded nearly half of all libraries in the United States.

Women's clubs played a vital role in this expansion. In the post-Civil War era, these clubs organized local efforts to establish libraries. They led fundraising and lobbied their communities to support these new institutions. It is estimated that women's clubs led the establishment of 75 to 80 percent of libraries in many communities. This shows how much local social organization helped spread Carnegie's vision.

During the era of segregation, Carnegie's libraries addressed different needs in the Southern United States. Because Black people were often denied access to public libraries, Carnegie funded separate libraries for them. An example is the Carnegie Library in Savannah, Georgia, which opened in 1914. This library served Black residents who had been excluded from white public libraries. Such buildings provided essential access to knowledge during a difficult time.

The architecture of these buildings was often very intentional. Many were built in styles like Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, or Classical Revival. Communities often chose the style themselves. Many libraries featured a prominent entrance staircase. This staircase was meant to symbolize a person's elevation through learning. Many also included lamp posts near the entrance to symbolize enlightenment.