There are 800 Carnegie libraries nonetheless in use right now as libraries. About 300 have been destroyed, and the remaining have both been repurposed for different public establishments or have turn into non-public property. This specific article doesn’t query whether or not or not these amenities needs to be saved or deemed traditionally vital, however as a substitute, wonders whether or not or not the funding by Carnegie was clever.
That query, in addition to the questions on why these buildings aren’t deemed important landmarks, will get to the coronary heart of how a lot mythology and misunderstanding there’s about these Carnegie libraries.
What are Carnegie libraries, anyway? What historic worth have they got and the way do these deemed necessary sufficient get listed on the National Register—and what profit is there to being included? Let’s dive into that, plus have a look at a few of the architectural types you may see in older libraries, each these that are Carnegie and people which aren’t.
What Is a Carnegie Library?
Although many suppose {that a} Carnegie library has a selected architectural model—I do know I did!—what Carnegie library means is solely that a part of the library’s preliminary prices had been helped by funds from Andrew Carnegie.
Carnegie was a Nineteenth-century industrialist and philanthropist. In simply 33 years, between 1886 and 1919, he donated $40 million {dollars} towards the growth of 1679 libraries throughout the US. The free library motion dominated the many years prior to this funding, the place reformers throughout the nation noticed public libraries as essential for serving to to educate and entertain Americans as the nation quickly industrialized. It would assist educate a voting populace—and that is necessary as a result of public libraries, regardless of their repute for and modern dedication to inclusivity, had been discriminatory for marginalized folks—and libraries had been seen as options to social actions like ingesting and playing.
The downside, although, was cash. US cities and municipalities didn’t but have the proper to tax their residents. Income tax didn’t exist till after the Civil War, and different taxes didn’t emerge till the early twentieth century. The upfront prices of constructing a neighborhood library had been immense: from the supplies to assemble the facility to the cabinets, desks, and books inside it. Many had been staffed by volunteers, together with members of native ladies’s teams who helped get the library stepping into the first place.
His personal expertise as a toddler instilled the energy of libraries for Carnegie. He noticed libraries as locations the place folks bettered themselves. We know he did, and given how a lot data helped him succeed, it’s seemingly he noticed not solely profit for the particular person however for companies extra broadly. Companies need competent employees (and it needs to be famous that as a lot as Carnegie wished folks to educate themselves and have entry to tradition, he was not pro-worker and was aggressively anti-union, particularly inside his personal firms.
Carnegie’s philanthropy towards libraries got here in two waves. The first helped fund 14 neighborhood facilities that integrated libraries as a part of a much bigger area; the second was solely for the growth of libraries. During this second interval is when the bulk of Carnegie establishments had been funded, and those that utilized for the funding had been probably granted in the event that they had been small communities that lacked cultural establishments. This is why you see so many Carnegie libraries in the Midwest: these had been cities with out a lot in them for his or her residents. In segregated communities, separate libraries might be funded to service white patrons in a single and Black patrons in one other.
Potential libraries wanted to apply to get the funds, and so they had been open to any English-speaking nation (for this reason there are Carnegie libraries in South Africa, Barbados, Tasmania, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, France, and plenty of different nations). Those functions went by means of Carnegie’s secretary James Bertram, and the functions requested to exhibit want, a web site location, present public funds for help, make sure that 10% of the price of constructing the library was allotted yearly to maintain it operational, and maintain the facility freely out there to the public. Carnegie’s early plans included endowments for these establishments, however he believed that if communities weren’t financially supporting the libraries themselves, the areas may “become the prey of a clique.” Bertram made the selections on what communities acquired entry to funding, and the Carnegie funding was solely given when proof of the neighborhood having the ability to afford the remaining price of building was demonstrated.*
In different phrases, Carnegie libraries had been solely partially funded by Carnegie. He additionally didn’t make the ultimate selections on which tasks had been granted. After 1911, Bertram was now not concerned both. The selections landed in the palms of the Carnegie Corporation. Not all library functions had been accepted, both—Bertram or later, the Corporation would decide that the amenities already housing the neighborhood library had been sufficient.
Carnegie had no involvement in figuring out the place in a neighborhood the library was constructed. He and Bertram had been additionally not concerned in what the library constructing would seem like. The assist they offered in these selections got here down to ensuring the library had room to increase in the future; roughly one out of three of the funded amenities skilled controversy over the location of the library.
Library funding from Carnegie stopped simply 4 years earlier than he died. This choice got here when a report confirmed that whereas these communities had benefited tremendously from libraries, what these communities actually wanted had been folks to workers the library—one thing that the funds weren’t for.
Common Architectural Styles of Public Libraries
A problem that got here up for a lot of of the recipients of the funding was what their library ought to seem like. Again, Bertram and Carnegie weren’t in the enterprise of constructing these selections. Eventually, although, they did develop a primary information with the assist of library employees that helped in guiding the majority of Carnegie libraries, The pamphlet, “Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings,” consists of the following:
- Do not allocate an excessive amount of area to loos, stairs, or closets;
- A high flooring with area for storing books and area for seating each adults and kids; this area needs to be one giant room divided by bookshelves or glass dividers with a centrally positioned desk;
- A basement degree with a lecture room, utilities, and conveniences for patrons and workers;
- Windows positioned excessive sufficient for cabinets to circulation beneath them, and the suggestion that home windows ought to assist gentle the whole area;
- Avoiding fireplaces, since these took away shelving area;
- The exterior design can match the needs of the neighborhood;
- Including Carnegie’s title in the library was not required.
Many of those solutions had been consistent with traits being decided by the American Library Association (ALA). ALA suggestions moved amenities away from the excessive model of early European libraries—alcoves, tall cabinets, ladders—and into extra accessible types the place sightlines and supervision had been higher.
In this period of libraries, most had been closed stacks. Patrons weren’t ready to freely browse supplies however had to request them from a workers member or volunteer. Carnegie helped change that with one among his early libraries. Creating open cabinets helped cut back prices, and library employees may oversee the whole facility from their central desk. That, in fact, is mirrored in the design guides many Carnegie libraries used.
All of that is to say that whereas there may need been greatest practices for the library’s model, nothing wanted to be uniform till close to the finish of Bertram’s time period—he adopted the suggestions extra stringently as time went on. But even that was not particularly uniform in utility.
Because most Carnegie library architectural selections had been made at the neighborhood degree, some carry barely extra significance than others. Various corporations started to market themselves as consultants at Carnegie libraries at the native and regional ranges. This made quite a lot of sense: those that sought the funding weren’t consultants, and so they had been determined to make the most of the funding offered to make the library a actuality. You may discover a selected aesthetic inside one area of the nation however not elsewhere, even when all of these libraries are Carnegie libraries. Patton & Miller of Chicago, for instance, did over 100 Carnegies in the Midwest, whereas William H. Weeks in California did 22.
According to the California Carnegie web site, Weeks’s libraries mirrored traits in structure extra broadly:
Three of his earlier commissions, in 1902, 1903, and 1904, had been in the Romanesque model, whereas one other, his 1903 design for Watsonville, was an elaborate variation on the triumphal arch theme. From 1906 by means of 1911 he designed eight Classical Revival Carnegies, of which seven had been the temple model, and one Spanish Revival constructing. Between 1913 and 1921 he constructed seven Classical Revival libraries, two in the triumphal arch model and 5 in the extra minimalist model, in addition to two Craftsman cottage libraries.
Six Weeks libraries are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Peruse the types of Carnegies and also you’ll see a bit of of the whole lot. Mirror Lake Community Library is in the Beaux-Art Style, whereas the former Guthrie, Oklahoma, public library was in the Second Renaissance Revival model. That facility is now not the public library, however as a substitute serves as an area museum following a take care of an area philanthropist not to tear it down when a bigger facility was wanted. Bayliss Public Library (CA) is in the Classic Revival model, whereas Las Vegas, New Mexico, has a Georgian Revival impressed by Monticello. Denver, Colorado, started its public library as a Carnegie in the Greek Revival model, and the Braddock, Pennsylvania, Carnegie is in the eclectic medieval model.
In the Midwest the place I’m, one among the first (possibly the first) American-developed architectural types is the Prairie School model. That’s the creation of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose pupil Louis Sullivan helped develop the aesthetic of low roofs, open flooring plans, and loads of pure wooden and stone. It turned common at the finish of the Nineteenth century and into the early twentieth, making it a well-liked model for libraries of the time. You can look by means of a gallery of a few of these Prairie School-style libraries right here, and see particularly what number of have loads of area to be used each in entrance and behind the constructing itself. Sullivan was a part of the staff behind the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library (IL), and also you see not solely the Prairie School model right here but additionally the influences from a few of the work he did in Chicago.**
How Does a Library Become a Historic Place?
So now that we all know what a Carnegie library is and what it’s not, let’s speak about one thing that has popped up a number of instances. The Flagg-Rochelle Library above is a part of the National Register of Historic Places, as are most of the libraries talked about above.
The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Parks Service. It was created in 1966 so as to create a central registry of buildings, objects, districts, communities, and websites throughout the nation which have historic significance. Listed locations characterize one thing necessary to the heritage of the nation, be it on the nationwide degree, regional degree, or native degree. Via state, federal, or tribal historic preservation places of work, folks or organizations can nominate a spot. Review boards in every state consider the functions and make suggestions on whether or not or not it needs to be listed and the place it needs to be listed—if it’s simply at the state degree or deserves the honor at the nationwide degree.***
But the designation doesn’t essentially put restrictions on buildings not held by the federal authorities nor these receiving sure federal funds. In different phrases, whereas there is perhaps laws at the state or native degree when it comes to what can or can’t be carried out to buildings on the National Register, nothing adjustments for the constructing with the designation. As talked about earlier, there isn’t any granting of a plaque both—these are paid for by the homeowners or patrons of the amenities in the event that they’re desired.
There are advantages to the designation, together with entry to funds and signaling of dedication to historic preservation, amongst others. Being listed is fairly rattling cool, particularly as a result of there are individuals who plan their journey round visiting locations listed on the Register. The database, which continues to be being digitized, is each downloadable and searchable.
The course of is a lot of labor.
It additionally reframes the questions that come up when one among these buildings is both destroyed or bought off: at what level does a constructing retain historic significance to a neighborhood or area? For Carnegie libraries, is it the truth a philanthropist helped fund its preliminary iteration? Is it the design model of the library and its connection to an architectural motion? It’s exhausting to say, however what is evident is the identical concern that led Carnegie to cease offering funds is the identical concern that arises in in search of National Register designation: folks energy is restricted.
Not each neighborhood could have a Carnegie library on the checklist, and that’s okay. Some buildings fall into disrepair as a result of they weren’t meant to final for hundreds of years. We may hope they’d and may like them to, however in a determined plea for funding a necessity to show help to full an preliminary public library challenge, what number of corners had been in the end reduce in small cities throughout the nation? If cash was tight sufficient to search a grant, then it was seemingly no extra in abundance to make all of the repairs that may inevitably emerge as time went on. While we all know and recognize the craftsmanship and pleasure in these neighborhood jewels, in some unspecified time in the future, their maintenance may turn into unsustainable and even downright harmful.
The excellent news is that the historical past of anybody constructing shouldn’t be misplaced when the constructing itself disappears. But the unhealthy information is, it takes folks to file, protect, and share that historical past.
A fast seek for “library” in the present National Register of Historic Places ought to lend hope, although. Over 1,200 entries emerge. Some are Carnegie libraries. Some are utterly totally different libraries.
Even if we lose a number of of the bodily Carnegies in the future, not solely had been they clearly an funding value making, however they stay on in lots of of locations throughout the nation.
Maybe it’ll be you or me who buys the subsequent Cheap Old Carnegie we will and do one thing with it past our wildest desires as e-book lovers.
Notes:
* A narrative that popped up a number of instances about the want for an area devoted library got here from Chatfield, Minnesota. The pre-Carnegie library there ran out a WC and the matron of the toilet was the “librarian.” The facility was inside an area retailer.
** My favourite public library in the Prairie School model is the unimaginable Lake Geneva Public Library in Wisconsin, however this specific library is not a Carnegie. I can’t suggest sufficient digging into this 1944 historical past of the library—the descriptions of the individuals who made it occur are unimaginable.
*** Here’s info on how to get the utility course of began.
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