Tag Archives: philanthropy

Carnegie In Chillicothe

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When you’re a book nerd, most any place with lots of books will do. Bookstores and public libraries are favorite places for most self respecting book dragons. For this reason alone, Andrew Carnegie is one of the very best philanthropists in our nation’s history, if you ask me.

Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in American history and he chose to spend much of his wealth helping others. He saw value in giving communities centers for learning and culture. To have a library where people could go for free programming and for books was a true gift, especially for the poor. 

Carnegie, like some other wealthy individuals of the day, seemed to feel responsibility to do something useful for the good of the world. This, of course, was at a time in our history when education and intelligence were things to revere. That doesn’t seem to be the case these days as we push kids toward money rather than learning and our own opinions over the expert’s experience. Most of our country’s wealthy tend to invest in their own dreams and missions rather than someone else’s. 

We could use an Andrew Carnegie right now. 

We went on a sidequest Saturday to visit the Carnegie Library in Chillicothe. This is one of about 2,500 libraries that Carnegie donated in American communities both big and small. This library was built with a gift of $30,000 from Carnegie and a ten percent match of $3,000 raised locally. That was in 1907 during the heart of Carnegie’s 46-year building spree. 

We got a quick tour of the facility from the library director. He took us outside to show us the building’s appearance today and then back inside to see old photos that depict the original look of the building. Most Carnegies were designed with simple but impressive staircases that lead to substantial front doors. Once you’ve seen a Carnegie library or two it’s easy to spot them.

When ADA access became a legal issue, these libraries were modernized in a couple of basic ways. The least obtrusive was to build on and add a side or back door with a ramp or elevator. Then there’s what actually happened in many communities including Chillicothe. They removed the front steps and made a new front door at ground level. Not only did this change the character of the building, it caused water drainage issues for this one. The director told us they are working on a plan to expand the library and restore the original entrance and steps. ‘

I hope they’re able to do it. 

It’s a nice library and the collection looked interesting. I have a card with their system but always go to a location across town. Now I want to go back!

A Library With A View

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One of the treats of being in Pittsburgh at night is a stroll along the Mount Washington Overlook. You can take the incline up the 450 feet or you can drive up and park along the street.

While you’re there, pay attention to some of the architecture. I’m especially fond of this Carnegie Library. The Mount Washington community formed a library association in 1882 and a reading room six years later.

Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie supported the efforts to build a proper library, funding this nice building which opened May 31, 1900.

The Pittsburgh titan of steel funded 1,689 libraries in the United States and more in other countries. Along the way, he created a revolutionary new self service model. Before this, library employees would retrieve requested books rather than allowing the patron to browse and select their own.

This reduced operating costs and opened a new world of accessibility for readers. He actually introduced this model in Pittsburgh’s neighborhood branch libraries that were built after the city’s main library. It appears this was one that used the new self service model.

I have such respect and appreciation for Carnegie’s support of access to books and reading. Where would our society be if not for the resources provided by our libraries? It’s one of the last places in the world where you can exist, use materials and find enrichment completely for free.

He died in 1919. In the final years of his life, Carnegie gave away $350 million dollars. In modern money, that would be about $5.5 billion. The man was filthy rich but he thought it more important to use his money for philanthropic interests rather than hold onto more money than he could spend in a lifetime.

When you think about the good he did for small towns and neighborhoods across the country, the good he did for the masses is awe inspiring. The next time you pass by a Carnegie library, be sure to pause a moment and say a word of thanks.