Spend the Night in a Converted Carnegie Library
By Larry T. Nix
Andrew Carnegie has been referred to as the "Patron Saint of Libraries.” Carnegie donated over $56 million for the construction of 2509 library buildings throughout the world including 1679 public library buildings in the United States. The buildings, which were built in the last part of the 19th century and in the first two decades of the 20th century, are part of America's library heritage. After many decades and more than a century in many cases, Carnegie library buildings have suffered a variety of fates.
In a survey undertaken by Theodore Jones in 1996, there were 772 Carnegie buildings still in use as libraries. Because most Carnegie library buildings were not large enough to meet the needs of growing communities, many of the libraries still in use had undergone major renovations and expansions. Some of the renovations were tastefully done, but some resulted in a convoluted appearance for the building. There is no doubt that the number of Carnegie buildings still in use as libraries has continued to decline since 1996. What is surprising is that after so many decades there are so many still functioning as libraries. They are still a place where lives are changed and enriched.
The Jones survey identified 276 Carnegie library buildings that had been destroyed for one reason or another. In some cases, natural disaster was the cause of the building’s destruction, but in others decisions were deliberately made to raze the building. Buildings were razed, in many cases, by the communities they were located in because the site of the Carnegie was also a great site for a new, more modern library building. In some cases buildings were razed because they stood abandoned for long periods of time and were no longer safe. In at least one case the Carnegie was razed to make way for a parking lot. Again, it is almost certain that more Carnegie library buildings have been destroyed since 1996.
Another group of Carnegie library buildings have been repurposed for other uses. Jones identified 377 buildings that fit into this category, and once again there are more in this category now than in 1996. The uses which former Carnegie library buildings now serve are varied. A number are now used as museums, many have been converted to office buildings, and a couple even serve as private residences.
One of the former Carnegie library buildings has a use that allows us to establish a more intimate relationship with the building. The Carnegie building in Ladysmith, Wisconsin has been repurposed as a bed and breakfast. The building in Ladysmith is now the Carnegie Hall Bed & Breakfast. Why not spend a night with Carnegie on your next vacation? There is also a Carnegie library building in Olean, New York that is used as a restaurant in conjunction with a bed and breakfast.
An effort is being made on Wikipedia to develop lists of Carnegie libraries by state. These lists contain varying amounts of information about the building, but hopefully current information about the status of the building will be added and/or updated in the future. There is also a list of websites which deal with Carnegie libraries on the Library History Buff website.
November 25, 2010 will be the 175th anniversary of Carnegie's birth, making 2010 a great opportunity for all the communities that benefited from his generosity to celebrate his library legacy.
Larry Nix is a retired Wisconsin librarian who spends much of his time promoting library history. He is Chair of the Steering Committee of the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center and publishes the Library History Buff Blog. He is an avid collector of librariana.