Carnegie Corporation

Carnegie Commemorative Grants to Urban Public Libraries

REMARKS BY LIBRARY DIRECTORS, NEW YORK CITY

Paul LeClerc, President and Chief Executive Officer, The New York Public Library:

"One hundred years after the momentous gift from Andrew Carnegie that built 65 branch libraries throughout New York City, and gave rise to the extensive branch library system we know today, the Carnegie name is once more tied inexorably to The New York Public Library. This magnificent gift from Carnegie Corporation to institutions across the country makes a resounding statement about the continuing importance of libraries to every American.

"The generous funds given to the Library will bolster collections in music, art, and literature for all ages; purchase books and other materials in many languages; help those new to this country learn English and other skills to help integrate them into the mainstream of American life; increase literacy programs; preserve important endeavors in filmmaking; and introduce reading and the arts to all New Yorkers through special programs. In addition, $200,000 for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture echoes the original support from the Corporation that enabled the acquisition of Arturo Schomburg’s personal library in 1925.

"The gift says again, resoundingly, that the Library is where the truth can be found; where knowledge unfolds gracefully before the seeker; and where history and the future combine seamlessly for the benefit of all mankind."

Mart°n GÜmez, Executive Director, Brooklyn Public Library:

"The grant from Carnegie Corporation provides Brooklyn Public Library with a phenomenal opportunity to serve our youngest and newest library patrons. These funds will allow us to work hand-in-hand with the city’s schools to enhance the reading skills of both preschool and school-age children -- skills essential to success in school and in life. The Library will also be able to greatly enhance its services to Brooklyn’s large immigrant population by creating core collections for non-English speakers at all of our 58 branch libraries. We applaud Carnegie Corporation’s vision in anticipating the emerging needs of the city’s residents, a vision we share in our commitment to providing the people of Brooklyn with free and open access to information for education, reference, and recreation."

Gary E. Strong, Director, Queens Borough Public Library:

"The Queens Library is extremely grateful for this generous grant which signals the continuing commitment of Carnegie Corporation to America’s libraries. The Queens Library’s mission is to serve the communities of the borough, one of the most diverse counties in the nation. To that end, this grant will be used to augment the collections of our International Resource Center (the largest concentration of multicultural resources available to the Queens community); the math and science resources for children and teens; and children’s languages collections from around the world.

"This opportunity enables the collection to fully reflect the range of human diversity. Because of this contribution our dreams for a better tomorrow for our community will became a reality, impacting lives well into a second century of support from the Carnegie Corporation."

Howard Dodson, Chief, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

"Carnegie Corporation was there almost 75 years ago to ensure the preservation of Arthur Schomburg’s collection on Black history and culture. Through the foundation’s grant of $10,000, The New York Public Library was able to acquire it, preserve it, and make it available to the public. On the eve of the 21^st century and the 75^th anniversary of the Center, Carnegie Corporation has again invested in the preservation of essential resources for documenting African American and African diasporan histories and culture. This $200,000 gift will assist the Center in preserving fragile copies of African American, African, and Caribbean newspapers. It will also provide resources for preserving the voice of significant figures in 20^th century African American history and culture which have been captured on fragile audiotape formats. We thank the Corporation and its president, Vartan Gregorian, for helping the Schomburg Center maintain its leadership role as a research library on the global African experience."

100 YEARS: ANDREW CARNEGIE’S LIBRARY LEGACY

Selected Statements from Library Directors, Other Cities

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: "Almost 100 years later, Andrew Carnegie’s gift of a public library to the citizens of Atlanta has grown into a network of 35 facilities." -- E. Paulette Smith-Epps, Assistant Director of Public Services.

Cleveland Public Library:"Between 1903 and 1914 Andrew Carnegie gave funds to Cleveland for the construction of fifteen branch libraries, helping to fulfill a need to have quality book collections close at hand in Cleveland’s neighborhoods." -- Marilyn Gell Mason, Former Director.

The Denver Public Library: "The first major reinvention of the Denver Public Library was prompted by the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, whose gift of the Main Library (1910) and eight branch libraries (1913-1920) created a presence in Denver’s expanding neighborhoods." -- Rick J. Ashton, City Librarian.

District of Columbia Public Library: "In Washington, Mr. Carnegie’s gift supported the construction of four facilities, three of which are still serving the public as libraries and the fourth, the city’s old main library, will soon be converted into a museum of the history of the city of Washington. -- Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Enoch Pratt Free Library: "On November 10, 1906, Mr. Andrew Carnegie gave $500,000 to the Enoch Pratt Free Library for the construction of branch libraries. This gift, the largest since Enoch Pratt’s original bequest in 1882, built fifteen libraries, and enabled the Pratt Library to meet the ever-increasing demand for library service in the City." -- Carla D. Hayden, Director, Enoch Pratt Free Library.

The Free Library of Philadelphia: "As Mr. Carnegie wrote to the Board of Trustees of The Free Library of Philadelphia in 1903, ‘the Branch Libraries are the most popular institution of all, and, I think, the most useful. A great Central Library is, of course, needed, but even before it in usefulness I place the local libraries, which reach the masses of people.’" -- Elliot L. Shelkrot, President and Director.

Los Angeles Public Library: "The Los Angeles Public Library was a direct beneficiary of Mr. Carnegie’s philanthropy with his gift of ten Carnegie libraries [in 1912]. Today our Library serves the largest population of any library system in the United States." --Susan Kent, City Librarian.

San Antonio Public Library: "In 1903, and again in 1909, [Andrew] Carnegie’s gifts were the impetus for the founding and expansion of free Public Library services [in San Antonio]." -- Kaye Lenox, Executive Director, San Antonio Library Foundation.

Seattle Public Library: "We have thought about how the Carnegie legacy, the role of branch libraries, and the ways in which library service and usage have changed in the years following Mr, Carnegie’s generous gift to the people of Seattle and others throughout the world. Our citizens are proud of the preservation and award-winning restoration of our Carnegie branches performed over the last decade." -- Gilbert W. Anderson, Board of Trustees.