New life for historic libraries

Philanthropist Carnegie changed way we lent books

By Al Andry, Post staff reporter

Greater Cincinnatians continue to benefit from one of the greatest philanthropic gifts of the century: the funding of thousands of public libraries nationwide by business magnate Andrew Carnegie.

Now new life is being injected into the elegant Carnegie branch libraries here with major renovations under way by their owner, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The Public Library has $1.8 million in its 2000 budget to renovate five branch libraries, including the Carnegie libraries in Avondale and Norwood, according to Public Library Director Kim Fender.

''Although the libraries were built 100 years ago, their design was flexible enough that they are still useful and practical. They were very innovative at the time. They still are excellent buildings and do a good job,'' she said.

For 100 years, the Carnegie branch libraries here and throughout the English-speaking world have quietly done what their benefactor intended: give the average citizen the opportunity to learn and better himself.

The historically and architecturally significant libraries, built at the turn of the century in smaller and suburban communities throughout the United States and the English- speaking world, played a major role in disseminating education, said Walter E. Langsam, an architectural historian who teaches at the University of Cincinnati.

''The Carnegie libraries were important because they had open stacks which encouraged people to browse. The open stacks were more democratic. People could choose for themselves what books they wanted to read. The libraries were meant to be for people of all walks of life,'' he said.

Before Carnegie, books were retrieved from closed stacks by librarians or clerks.

''The libraries were a very successful boost to education at the turn of the century,'' Langsam said.

Andrew Carnegie, a grade-school dropout born into poverty, emigrated to the United States from Scotland when he was 12 years old. He went on to become a self-made millionaire, building a Pittsburgh iron and steel company he later sold for $500 million.

He believed ''people could improve themselves by working hard. He believed people should spend the first half of their lives making money, and the second half helping society,'' said Amy Banister, spokeswoman for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Carnegie considered the free libraries he funded the people's universities.

Eight of the 11 Carnegie libraries built in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky still provide the opportunity for average citizens, ''the masses'' as Carnegie referred to them, to educate themselves and climb the social ladder.

All now are owned and operated by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The Carnegie libraries usually became the center of cultural life in a community. Carnegie insisted that the libraries have a meeting room where people could gather and attend lectures, and a reading room for children.

''I suspect that many communities did not have public libraries before Carnegie,'' Langsam said.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County recently closed the Carnegie library branch at 4219 Hamilton Ave., Cumminsville, until December for a massive renovation. Ms. Banister said $356,000 will be spent on the project which will replace the flooring, mechanical systems (adding air conditioning), electrical wiring, carpeting and fire alarm system.

In the past two years, the Carnegie branch library at 2802 Vine St., Corryville, underwent a $2.2 million renovation. Circulation at the branch dwindled in the 1960s and 1970s as the neighborhood underwent a social and economic upheaval, but has bounced back since it was restored.

In all, Carnegie donated $56 million to build 2,509 libraries in the English-speaking world. He demanded that his money be used only to construct the buildings and insisted that the community pay for the site and the upkeep. At the time, there were very few public libraries in the world.

One of the original nine Carnegie libraries in Cincinnati burned down decades ago. The Carnegie library in the East End is now the Tusculum Community Center.

None of the remaining libraries in Cincinnati are protected under federal law as historical sites, said Beth Sullebarger of the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

The Carnegie library at Fourth and Monmouth in Newport was built in 1900 with a $25,000 donation from Carnegie.

''It was finished in 1902. We've not made many changes. It's very much as it was,'' said Librarian Aileen Hurst. ''It's much too crowded, but there is no other library in Newport.''

She said it was renovated in 1937 and underwent extensive renovation in 1987 at a cost of $260,000.

In the mid-1970s, the Carnegie library at Scott and Robbins streets in Covington was converted to the Carnegie Arts Center. The center contains a mural by prominent artist Harlan Hubbard which was done under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration during the Depression, according to Charles King of the Kenton County Public Library, at 502 Scott Boulevard.

Mary Ellen Armentrout, the librarian at the Eleanor Squire (horticulture) Library at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, is writing a book on the 115 Carnegie libraries in Ohio, all of which are approaching their 100th birthday.

Ms. Armentrout said that Cincinnati is the only city in the state that has not changed the Carnegie libraries substantially.

She said the Carnegie library at 3566 Reading Road, Avondale, is probably one of the most architecturally interesting libraries in the country because of its Rookwood tile at the entrance.

The surviving libraries

When the libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie's wealth were built at the turn of the century in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, they were considered to be in the suburbs. The surviving Carnegie libraries, their addresses, opening dates and architectural style, are:

Avondale. 3566 Reading Road. Opened in 1913. Spanish Colonial.

Cumminsville. 4219 Hamilton Ave. Opened 1908. French Renaissance.

Corryville. 2802 Vine St. Opened 1907. Renaissance Revival.

Hyde Park. 2747 Erie Ave. Opened 1912. Colonial.

Norwood. 4325 Montgomery Road. Opened 1906. Italian Renaissance.

Price Hill. 3215 Warsaw Ave. Opened 1909. Restrained French Renaissance.

Walnut Hills. 2533 Kemper Lane. Opened 1906. French Renaissance.

Newport. Fourth and Monmouth. Opened 1902. Italian Renaissance.

Kentucky Post
City Editor