1916 Public Library, Danville, Illinois

Three other collections were ultimately consolidated to form the Danville Public Library in 1883. After renting library space in three downtown locations over twenty years, the Board of Trustees applied to Andrew Carnegie, a philanthropist, for funds to build a home for the library. Carnegie granted the city $40,000 and construction began in 1903. [http://www.danville.lib.il.us/about.htm]

[LIB787] Click on the image to order a reproduction of this postcard!

Carnegie Library, Mt. Vernon, Illinois

[LIB0350] - Local businessmen worked to secure a donation from Andrew Carnegie and the city accepted $12,500.00 from Mr. Carnegie. On April 8, 1903, the city resolved to "furnish a suitable site and grounds upon which to erect said building, and to appropriate, levy, and raise, by direct taxation or otherwise," 10% of the donation annually to support the library. Property was optioned in Green's subdivision of block twelve (101 South 7th Street) for $7,000.00. The city council minutes of August 3, 1905 reported the building (at a total cost of $15,562.00) was now ready for occupancy. The library has continued to operate from these premises to this day. Read more of the history of this library here.

1908 Public Library, Carey, Ohio

[LIB0346] - Courtesy of Waymarking: Like many towns, Carey had a history of small lending libraries run by different groups, with collections housed in various buildings and rooms in town. Mayor Greeley Chambers contacted Andrew Carnegie to request a grant to build a permanent library structure. In 1904, the small town received a small grant of $8000 for this purpose. An additional $5000 was received from local citizen Edwin Brown. Brown’s wife’s mother, Dorcas Carey, was the wife of John Carey, who founded the village. The library took her name in memoriam. The yellow brick building was designed by H. O. Wurmser, who had also designed school buildings and the First Methodist Church in Lorain, Ohio. Dorcas Carey Public Library opened 19 October 1906 with a relatively large collection of just over 5000 books. The building would be expanded several times over the next century. A large addition in 1979 had a second story added in 1987. Ten years later, another expansion project was completed. Today, the library lends books and audio-visual materials, but also has reproduction oil paintings available for 8 week loans. Local newspapers dating to 1873 are available on microfilm, a slide projector is available for rent, and internet access is offered. Programs include adult literacy tutoring, children’s story time, and family movie nights.
References:
Armentrout, Mary Ellen: Carnegie Libraries of Ohio

Carnegie Library, Escanaba, Michigan

Carnegie Library, Escanaba, Michigan Vintage by markomundo
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Press release: The former Carnegie Library, now owned by Paul and Marcia Neumeier now has a new dome roof, following the removal of the former dome due to leaking. The building, which is listed on the State Historical Register and Federal Historic Register, was constructed in 1902 with a $20,000 grant from Pittsburg steel baron Andrew Carnegie. It is only one of 242 libraries built with a grant from Carnegie to remain in existence worldwide. Read more here.
Read the history at the Library website.

McLean Library, Fostoria, Ohio

[LIB0322] - Early libraries in Fostoria, Ohio included a subscription service run by the owners of the local drugstore (1870s) and a library run by the Fostoria High School Alumni Association that was free to alumni and available for a small fee to non-alumni (1890s). Reorganization and city funding of $900 per year transformed the Alumni Association library into the Fostoria Public Library Association. This group, incorporated in 1900, maintained over 4000 volumes in a donated building on West Tiffin Street.

Local resident Louisa McClean left $21,000 to the library when she died in 1910. Then, in 1913, the library association approached Andrew Carnegie to obtain a library grant. Carnegie responded with a grant of $20,000. A lot on Perry Street was purchased for $10,000, and architect Thomas McLaughlin of Lima was hired to design the limestone building that would bear Mrs. McClean's name. The grand opening of the McClean Public Library was 11 November 1914. Featuresd speakers were Mayor George Cunningham and former Ohio State Librarian Charles Galbreath.

The library was expanded in 1968 with funds donated by Arthur Kaubisch. At some point, the library was renamed in his honor, though the McClean Drinking Fountain at the north end of the lot kept its original name.

A second addition was made in 1989. Today's Kaubisch library bears little resemblance to a http://www.fostoria.lib.oh.us/history_and_governance.htm>historical postcard depicting the orignal McClean library. However, one exterior wall of the original can be seen on the south side of the building.

References:
Armentrout, Mary Ellen. Carnegie Libraries of Ohio
http://www.fostoria.lib.oh.us/history_and_governance.htm>Kaubisch Memorial Public Library
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=9944618>"Opening the book on Fostoria's early library history", wtol.com, retrieved 13 July 2009

1940 Public Library, Baraboo, Wisconsin

[LIB0236] - In 1903 Baraboo Public Library opened at 230 4th Avenue. Previous to 1903, the library was housed in a room at the City Building. The library was chartered by the State of Wisconsin in 1895.
The 6,000 sq. ft. building was designed by Louis Claude of the Madison firm, Claude and Stark. Louis spent his youth at his parents' home at Devil's Lake, giving special meaning to his selection as the architect. A $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie made the construction possible. Karl Isenberg, a local contractor, was the builder. Architecturally, the building is of the neo-classical style with an exterior of brick and limestone. The roof is of clay tile. Interior features of note are the red oak woodwork and a frieze in the east reading room, originally the children's room, that is a copy of "The Dancing Boys" by Della Robbia. There are two fireplaces, one upstairs and one downstairs. Read more about the Baraboo Public Library here.

Public Library, Henderson, Kentucky

[LIB0171] - For one hundred years, folks traveling south on Main Street in Henderson have been admiring the white limestone and towering columns of the Henderson County Public Library. This institution first opened its doors to the public on August 1, 1904, after years of hard work by the publisher of the Henderson Journal, Edward Jonas. Mr. Jonas first began his campaign to bring a library to Henderson over a game of golf with the well-known philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie agreed to give the community the funding needed to build the library, if the community would purchase a suitable lot and would enact a tax that would cover the expenses related to running a library. It took Mr. Jonas until 1902 to get the backing of the local government, but soon things began to fall into place. Read more here.

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• Public libraries: enablers of Americans' dreams (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Carnegie Library, Enid, Oklahoma

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The need for a new library building encouraged city leaders to seek a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. In 1908 a grant of $25,000 was accepted and the site at 402 North Independence was purchased. The Enid Carnegie Library officially opened August 1, 1910. In the 1920s and 30s, the library struggled with funding and building repairs. In 1938, Mrs. Amy Carl organized a Friends of the Library group, which helped contribute materials and funds to the struggling library. Read more here!

Email me for details on obtaining a reproduction of this vintage postcard!

1915 Carnegie Library, Parsons, Kansas

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1907 - The voters of Parsons approved the question of establishing a free city library. Andrew Carnegie was contacted, and agreed to give $22,500 for the construction of a new building if the city provided the site and pledged annual support. A site at the corner of Broadway and Seventeenth Streets was purchased for $6,500, the funds being raised by subscriptions. The following year, E.F. Parker, a Kansas City architect, was hired, and the city council approved a resolution to levy the first library tax in Parsons.

1909 - The dream of having a free public library in Parsons was finally realized, and the new Carnegie Library building was officially opened in ceremonies on May 18. The building, one story with a basement, was built of Carthage stone backed with concrete, with a clay tile roof, dome, and copper gutters. The style was primarily derived from Beaux-Arts Classicism, and has a rather elaborate entrance that employs a Serliana motif with Ionic columns. The name “Carnegie Library” is carved above the entrance. At opening, the library had 3,655 volumes. [SOURCE]

1908 Interior View, Public Library, Cedar Rapids, IA

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The Cedar Rapids Public Library was established in 1895. In the early years, the library was located in a variety of locations including upper floors of the Granby and Dows buildings. In 1901, Andrew Carnegie pledged to donate $75,000 to the construction of a new Library. The Carnegie library opened in the spring of 1905. Over the next 80 years, there were continuous expansion projects at the Carnegie Library. [SOURCE]

1916 Public Library, Schenectady, New York

The "old" library is located at Union and Seward Streets. The land was bought with a $15,000 gift from General Electric. The building itself was funded by a $50,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie. It was opened on October 6, 1903. At the time there was concern that it was so far out of town that people would not be able to get there and it might even be unsafe.

The building followed the basic design of the Carnegie libraries throughout the northeast. Note the names of famous writers carved along the upper part just under the roof. Many patrons remember the glass balcony in the main part of the library, which also was part of many Carnegie libraries. The building is currently used as a dormitory for Union College. [SOURCE] [LIB3140]

1910 Carnegie Library, Beaver Falls, PA

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The Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls, also known as Carnegie Free Library, Beaver Falls, was the first public library built in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. Constructed in 1903, the structure was part of the Carnegie library system created by renowned steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie. [SOURCE]

Library, Madison, South Dakota

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The classic style of building has always been a visible expression of high culture, and the divine function of architecture to elevate, to purify, and refine can be seen in the effects upon people of buildings of this style, so Madison's library will surely help in the art education of its citizens. [SOURCE]

Carnegie Library, Marshalltown, Iowa

The Marshalltown Public library was established as a free municipal library in 1898. It moved to the building at 36 N. Center Street in 1902 after Andrew Carnegie donated $30,000 for the construction of a new library building. The Leise Addition, just west of the original Carnegie building, was added in 1975. The library's current building, at 105 West Boone Street, was completed in December 2008. [SOURCE] [LIB3076]

Carnegie Library, Burlington, Vermont

This vintage old postcard (c1915) was published by The Hugh C. Leighton Co., Manufacturers, Portland Maine, no. 20006
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In Burlington Volume II, authors Mary Ann DiSpiritoand David Robinson continue the detailed look at this intriguing Vermont city. Discovered by Samuel deChamplain in 1609, the next few centuries saw Burlington evolve from a wilderness to a small settlement, and eventually, flourish into Vermont’s largest city. Situated on the shores of Lake Champlain, Burlington’s waterfront area became the early center of commerce in the late eighteenth century with the rise of the lumber industry and the use of ships for transport. By 1865, when Burlington was incorporated as a city, the industries thatprofoundly shaped Burlington’s personality were already well established—these included lumber, textiles, shipping, and the railroad, as well as higher education. [Source: Arcadia Publishing]

Carnegie Public Library, RIVERSIDE CA

16 August 1901
Andrew Carnegie grants Riverside $20,000 for a library building.

[Source: Library History, http://www.riversideca.gov/library/about_history.asp]

[CA0874]

1913 Public Library, Denver, Colorado

In June 1889, City Librarian John Cotton Dana established Denver's first public library in a wing of Denver High School. He referred to it as a "center of public happiness." In 1910, the city opened a Central Library building of its own, an elegant Greek temple design funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and located in downtown's Civic Center Park. Between 1913 and 1920, Carnegie also underwrote construction of the city's first eight branch libraries. [http://www.denverlibrary.org/about/history.html]