Some area public libraries are receiving a special gift this January, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In October, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced that 1,280 Carnegie Libraries across America will receive a $10,000 gift for America’s birthday.
In the KCNI/KBBN listening area, libraries receiving the gift include those in Broken Bow, Burwell, and Gothenburg. Libraries receiving the Carnegie gift may use the funds however they wish to celebrate the 250th anniversary, further their mission, and benefit their community.
Broken Bow Library Director Megan Svoboda told KCNI/KBBN that receiving the no-strings-attached gift was a nice way to start off the new year.
“We’re thinking about maybe adding some outdoor seating to the library and kind of sprucing up the outside a bit,” said Svoboda.
Hannah Ballmer, Gothenburg Library Director, said the funds would likely help with some infrastructure projects around their facility, along with the possibility of additional summer reading programs.
Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries in the United States between 1886 and 1917. As part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 special initiative, his philanthropic foundation reached out to each library and established that about 1,280 still operate and acknowledge their link to Carnegie, making them eligible for the celebratory gift. Approximately 750 of the libraries continue to use their original buildings, while others have moved to new locations.
“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy’ that ‘strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man,’” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and former head of the University of Oxford. “We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”
The special initiative aligns with the foundation’s overarching goal of reducing political polarization. Over the past year, Carnegie has invested $30 million in grants for civics education, state-based community service, youth voting, and media and digital literacy.
Patrons are invited to share their their library’s photos, stories, and community celebrations, and to find more information about the Carnegie libraries, at carnegielibraries.org.
