In celebration of the 250 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Carnegie Corporation of New York has gifted $10,000 to 1350-plus surviving Carnegie Libraries.  Ottawa Library is proud of our history as a Carnegie Library and a grateful recipient of this generous gift.

Ottawa Library was established in March of 1872. In 1902, because of the solicitation efforts of Mrs. R.A. Wasson and Mrs. R.S. Black to Andrew Carnegie and the city of Ottawa’s pledge of $1,500 annually for library maintenance, Carnegie donated $15,000 to build the library.  The Carnegie Free Library building at 5 th and Main was dedicated on October 27, 1903. This location was the home of Ottawa Library for ninety-three years, until 1996.

Andrew Carnegie discovered the importance of libraries when a retired colonel opened his

personal library to young factory workers in Pittsburgh.  Carnegie learned that books had the

ability to change his life, calling them “the precious treasures of knowledge and imagination.”  After making his fortune in steel, he decided to use some of his wealth to fund free public libraries as a means of giving back.  He funded over 2,500 public libraries, calling them the “cradles of democracy.”  The Carnegie Corporation of New York has shared a comic (copies are available at the library) and a video about Andrew Carnegie’s life and library philanthropy.  Both can be viewed at ottawalibrary.org or on our Facebook page, Ottawa Library – Kansas.

We appreciate Andrew Carnegie’s belief in and support of public libraries and how they have

benefited Ottawa and our community. We are also grateful to the Carnegie Corporation of New York for its donation and continuation of Carnegie’s work in support of public libraries.  Our gift will be used toward the renovation of our new location at 204 S Walnut Street.