Funding came from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which also built libraries in the war-damaged cities of Rheims and Belgrade.
The architect of the Leuven library was Whitney Warren. Although the architect was American, he employed a Flemish style for this commission. His building in turn suffered severe damage in the Second World War, but has been restored. (For more details of this library, see Catholic University of Leuven.)
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France
The Carnegie library of Reims is the single Carnegie library in France. Reims was devastated in the First World War and the losses included library accommodation in the town-hall. The provision of a new library was conceived as a contribution to the city's reconstruction. Reims was one of three "front-line" cities to be given a Carnegie library, the other two being Leuven and Belgrade.
The Art Deco building was finished in 1927, and opened the following year in the presence of Gaston Doumergue, the French President and Myron T. Herrick, the US ambassador. The building was restored at the beginning of the 21st century. The library stock includes some materials that survived World War I.[1]
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Ireland
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Perspective
Carnegie libraries are to be found throughout Ireland.[2][3] Libraries vary considerably in size, some of the rural ones being very small, but the smallest must be the cabinets used for the Carnegie Library Lighthouse Service. 80 were constructed originally and 62 survive in their current form as of 2020 although some no longer function as libraries.[4]
A full list and description of Carnegie libraries in Ireland is in Irish Carnegie Libraries: a Catalogue & Architectural History.[5] The examples listed below are in the Republic of Ireland.
The Peace Palace Library is a library in The Hague. A financial donation by Andrew Carnegie made the construction of the Peace Palace possible.
Serbia
The Belgrade University Library, Serbia, is a Carnegie library.[65] Much of Belgrade was destroyed in the First World War, and in the 1920s it became one of three "front-line" cities to receive a Carnegie library, the other two being Leuven and Rheims.
United Kingdom
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Perspective
The Dunfermline Carnegie Library was the first Carnegie library to be built in Scotland; it opened in Carnegie's birthplace in 1883. Carnegie libraries in England began to be built at the beginning of the 20th century. In his retirement, Carnegie divided his time between the US and Scotland, and opened some British libraries personally.
In Britain the process of applying for a Carnegie library was broadly similar to that in the US. It was adapted to British legislation, e.g. the Public Libraries Act, which permitted expenditure from the rates on local libraries. Carnegie assessed applications using criteria which favoured poorer towns, but applicants had to undertake to support their library, providing it with books etc. from the rates. While most towns were very grateful to receive a grant, Carnegie's project was not without controversy. For example, some people objected to the way in which he had made his money. In the case of Stratford-on-Avon there were objections to the proposed building for conservation reasons, and this resulted in a library which blends into the half-timbered neighbouring buildings.[66]
Most Carnegie libraries served the general population of towns and cities, but he also provided some academic libraries in the UK. (This pattern of town and academic libraries was in line with his policy in the US where he provided a number of college libraries, for example at Tuskegee University.[67]) In Stoke-on-Trent the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust funded a specialist ceramics library.[68] The existence of special collections with catalogues gave scope for the development of interlibrary loans.
From 1913 applications were handled by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust,[69] based in Carnegie's home town, Dunfermline. The trust continued to fund libraries after Carnegie's death in 1919, but its priorities shifted to other areas of its charitable work.
Current status of Carnegie libraries
As at 2011 many of the UK's Carnegie libraries continue to be used for their original purpose. However, Carnegie libraries are being affected by local authority budget cuts which are reducing the number of public libraries across the country.[70]
Some Carnegie libraries are unprotected by the listing system. Over the years some Carnegie libraries have been demolished, e.g. Grays (details in the list below)
On the other hand, new uses have been found for other Carnegie libraries, e.g. Pontefract's Carnegie library is now a museum.
England
Herne Hill Library was built in 1906 and now Grade II listed.Levenshulme Library, a Carnegie library in a small Manchester suburb, was built in 1904.The technical college, Stoke-on-Trent, housed the Solon Carnegie Library. Unusually, this building of 1914 was provided from public funds and the books themselves by Carnegie.Former Carnegie library in SevenoaksSouthend-on-Sea Public Library (1905), in use since 1981 as the town's museumWesthoughton Library and Museum (1906)
Manor Park, 1905, brick and stone (library relocated 2012–2013).
New Cross, 1911, brick and stone, designed by Gerald Warren & Stanley E Castle (now Music Room studios)
Southall, 1905, closed down in 2014 and relocated services to Dominion Centre in The Green. Library building is now being used to house the Southall Christian Fellowship.
Chadderton 1904-05 Former civic library, Jacobean Revival, designed by J Lindsay Grant of Manchester for Chadderton UDC with funding from Andrew Carnegie.Building was vacated for a new 'Civic Hub' in 2010 and now privately owned. Listed as Grade II in 2011.
Crosby 1905, brick and stone, Grade II Listed (closed by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in December 2013 - currently a local charity Regenerus[81] is working to develop it as a Carnegie-Crosby a 3rd space for the community).[82]
Brierley Hill, 1904, Designed by the borough surveyor to Brierley Hill, Lewis Harper and built by CA Horton.[86]
Bolton on Dearne 1903, brick. One of the first Carnegie libraries outside Scotland. Formerly Council Offices, currently disused. Community group attempting to raise funds to restore the building and re-open it as a Fitness/Martial arts/Boxing centre for local youth.[87]
Boston Opened in West Street in 1904. Built as part of the Municipal Buildings with a grant of £560.[88]
Bournemouth Four Carnegie Libraries:- 1907 Winton Branch Library, built with £2,000 from the Carnegie fund, opened on 26 October, by Mayor J. A. Parsons, Grade II listed in 1976; 1909 Springbourne Branch Library, built with £2,000 from the Carnegie fund, opened on 27 March, by Mayor G. E. Bridge; 1910 Boscombe Branch Library, built with £4,000 from the Carnegie fund, designed by Mt C. T. Miles, opened on 22 June, by Mayor G. E. Bridge (relocated to new buildings in 1965); 1916 Westbourne Branch Library, built with £2,000 from the Carnegie fund, opened on 13 May, by Mayor H. Robson, Grade II listed in 1976.[89]
Bridgwater 1905, Edwardian Baroque style, Grade II listed.
Folkestone The existing library in Grace Hill was extended with a grant of £5,000 from Andrew Carnegie and opened in October 1910. Closed in December 2022 until further notice due to water damage.
Gainsborough Opened in Cobden Street in October 1905. Built with a grant of £4,000.[88]
Goole Opened in Carlisle Street in 1905 with a grant of £3,000. Demolished in the 1960s.
Gorleston-on-Sea Opened on the corner of Baker Street and Lowestoft Road in April 1907 and built with a grant of £2,000. Demolished in 1975.
Grantham Opened in St Peter's Hill in 1926. Originally built to house the town's library and museum, with partial funding from the Carnegie UK Trust. The library has since been relocated, but the building has continued in use as a museum.[88]
Gravesend Opened in Windmill Street in 1905. Built with a grant of £6,000. Grade-II listed in 1975 (run by Kent County Council).
Grays Free Library opened in Orsett Road in 1903. Built with a grant of £3,000. Later demolished.[91] Replaced by Essex County Council cultural centre in 1968, with Library on ground floor (run by Thurrock unitary authority). Some remnants of the library remain.[92]
Great Yarmouth Opened April 1905. Built with a grant of £5,000. Damaged in an air raid in 1941 and again in 1942. This library was subsequently demolished.
Hartlepool was built in 1903. The building was designed by H.C. Crummack, Borough Engineer.The library and adjoining former librarian's house (no. 72 Northgate) is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England.
Harrogate Opened in Victoria Avenue in 1906. Built with a grant of £7,500. Re-opened in October 2010 following refurbishment (run by North Yorkshire Council).
Hove 1908, Renaissance style faced with stone, Grade II listed.
Huthwaite opened 1913, now owned by Nottinghamshire County Council and still serving the people of Huthwaite
Hull Opened in Analby Road in 1905. Built with a grant of £3,000. Grade II listed, now the "Carnegie Heritage Centre".
Ilkeston. Built with a grant of £7,500 and opened in 1904, this Grade II listed building sits prominently on the marketplace and still operates as a library.
Lincoln Opened in Free School Lane in 1913. Built with a grant of £10,000.[88]
Littlehampton[96] 30 May 1906. Maltravers Road BN17 5NA. The extended & refurbished modern library[97] is run by West Sussex County Council.
Lowestoft Opened in Clapham Road in May 1905. Destroyed in an air raid March 1941.
Luton Opened 1 October 1910. Built with a grant of £12,000. Demolished in 1962.[98]
Mansfield Opened in Leeming Street in May 1905. Built with a grant of £3,500. Remained a library until 1977, and is currently used as an arts centre.[99]
Scunthorpe Opened in Station Road (now High Street East) in February 1904. Used as a public library until 1974. Demolished c.1985.[88]
Sevenoaks Opened in The Drive in November 1905. Built with a grant of £3,000. Used as a public library until 1986.
Shipley, West Yorkshire 1905, stone construction. The building is no longer in use as a library.Shipley, West Yorkshire 1905, stone construction. The building is no longer in use as a library, and is being fully refurbished and converted into offices, to become the head office of the Carlton Care Group.
Solon Carnegie Library, no building provided. This academic library comprised books on ceramics. The collection is now in the Horace Barks Reference Library, Stoke-on-Trent.
Stamford, Lincolnshire Opened in High Street in 1906. Building converted for library use with a grant of £2,500. Grade II listed.[107][108]
Stapleford, Nottinghamshire 1906. Used as a public library until replacement by modern premises in 1981. Then fell into disrepair until purchased by Stapleford Town Council in 1987 and subsequently renovated and re-opened in 1988 as The Carnegie Centre. Now home to Stapleford Town Council.[109] In use as library during 2013 as the 1981 library is refurbished.
Tinsley Carnegie Library, opened in June 1905, a few months before Sheffield's more well known Carnegie library at Walkley, and seven years before Tinsley became part of Sheffield. It served as the branch library until 1985 when the service moved to a new building.[112]
Walsall Central Library, of red brick and stone. Opened 24 July 1906 at a cost of £8,000.[114]
Drury Lane Library, Wakefield 1905, stone. Library now closed, replaced by a new library and museum within the Wakefield One civic office building which opened to the public on Monday 29 October 2012, with the lending library on the upper ground floor and local studies section and museum on the lower ground floor.[115] The building was converted by The Art House in 2014 into 34 artists' studios.[116]
Wednesbury 1908, red brick and limestone at a cost of £5,000.
Worthing[119] 1908. Built by Worthing Corporation, the building survives as Worthing Museum & Art Gallery.[120] Today's library[121] was built next door, opened in 1975 and is run by West Sussex County Council.[121]
Govanhill & Crosshill District Library, Scotland, built in 1906 by architect James Robert RhindPlaque in Arthurstone Library, Dundee, Scotland acknowledging donation by Andrew Carnegie
In Scotland the Carnegie libraries were typically built of stone.[122] In the rest of the British Isles there was much more use of brick. The drawings of the Carnegie libraries designed by architect James Robert Rhind are in the Strathclyde Archives, Glasgow.[123]
Ewart Library, Dumfries, named at Carnegie's suggestion after William Ewart, MP for Dumfries Burghs 1841–1868, in 1850 he carried a bill for establishing free libraries supported out of public rates.
Rhyl, Flintshire (now Denbighshire) 1907 no longer in use as a library. Makes up part of the town hall and is used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages.
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