Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development

Front Cover
American Library Association, 1969 - Biography & Autobiography - 257 pages
Carnegie and the Carnegie Corporation provided funding for 1,681 public library buildings in 1,412 U.S. communities between 1889 and 1923. This philanthropy had a great impact on the growth of public library development in the United States. Free public libraries supported by local taxation had begun with Boston in 1849 and slowly spread throughout the country. The Carnegie benefactions made them leap forward. This internationally famous celebrity chose libraries as one of the primary sources for his philanthropy. He also attached two conditions to his offer of money for a public library building--the local community had to provide a suitable site and formally agree to continuously support the library through local tax funds. The latter solidified acceptance of the concept of tax support for libraries.

From inside the book

Contents

CHAPTER
3
Carnegie Grants for Public Libraries State
16
CHAPTER
24
Copyright

23 other sections not shown

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information