Dear Reader,
Last week when I asked readers to share personal stories from their library, I noticed that several of the libraries mentioned were named, Carnegie. I have a vague recollection of learning in history class that Andrew Carnegie built libraries all over the US., but I decided I needed to know more, so thanks to several Google sites...
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the US steel industry in the late 19th century and is one of the richest Americans in history. His philanthropic interests centered around the goals of education and world peace. Carnegie believed the establishment of free public libraries would make available to everyone a means of self-education.
Carnegie built 2,509 libraries between 1883 and 1929. More than half, 1,689, were built in the US and 660 more were built in the UK and Ireland. He also built libraries for communities in eleven other countries. Nearly all of Carnegie's libraries were built according to "the Carnegie formula," which required financial commitments for maintenance and operation from the town that received the donation. Amazingly, there were only a few public libraries in the world when, in 1881, Carnegie began to promote his idea.
Thanks to Andrew Carnegie, our libraries are a staple of our communities, and I was happy to host a National Library Week party last week at the book club--compete with giveaways. Here are the winners:
Keep Calm and Read Books phone/tablet stand: Gabriele K., Hall County Library System
Shhh, I'm reading, Owl tote bag: Pat R., Jean Rhein Central Branch Library
Handmade Pure Essential Oil Bath Bombs: Alyson N., Harris County Public Library
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Paula K., Scott County Public Library
Debbie M., Shorewood High School Library
Sharon C., St Petersburg Public Library, North Branch
Winners of my recent book giveaway: Anthony M., Becky Y., Nancy P., Trudy M., Barb W., Nikki G., Martha A., Phyllis S., Hilda L., Reina R. and Sathiya M.
Readers share their (Carnegie) library memories...
"Dear Suzanne, each Saturday my mother and I would walk up the hilly street to the Carnegie library in Easton PA. A family was allowed to check out five books on one card. At first my mother would get two books and I would get three. Soon I wanted more so my mother finally marched up to the children's librarian and asked if I could have my own card. It was an unheard of request, since I was not attending school yet. Mother held her ground, the librarian sputtered and finally checked with her supervisor. Finally she returned and told us that I could have a card if I could print my name. No problem. I printed my first and last name and was given my own card. Later she told me that I was the youngest person to have a library card. I was not four years old yet. We happily marched home with our 10 books." -- Maris S.
"I grew up as a child in the small, northern Ohio town of Bellevue. My mom loved to read and taught my brother and me to love to read also. Our dad died when we were very young, and there was very little extra money in our home at the end of every month. Therefore, the local Carnegie-Stahl Public Library's annual culling sale was a huge event to us. The library would sort out books that were getting too worn or had been damaged, or beautiful books that hadn't been circulating well. These would be put out for a sale on a yearly basis. AND, most importantly (to us, anyhow!), each book was sold for a nickel. A nickel! I still remember the thrill of getting a whole quarter for each of us to spend at each year's sale. FIVE books could be purchased! I still have one of those books from one of those sales with the five cent price on it. And, yes the circle has gone fully around: I now help with the library's semi-annual sale in my own current community." -- Barbara R.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.
KIDSBUZZ: It's National Poetry Month - check out A POEM IS A FIREFLY written by Charles Ghigna, a new picture book and "charming ode for beginning young bards" (Kirkus) that gets kids thinking about the wonder and magic of poetry. For a chance to win a free copy, to talk with the author, and more, click here.
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