Historic Carnegie Libraries Across Oklahoma Receive Gift of $10,000

To mark our nation's 250th anniversary, the Carnegie Corporation of New York has gifted celebratory grants to hundreds of historic libraries. Thanks to this special initiative, Carnegie libraries in Oklahoma will start the year with $10,000 they can put towards serving their communities.

"My hope is that this gift serves as a recognition of your commitment, our founder’s legacy, and the importance of this milestone in our nation’s history," said Corporation President Louise Richardson after thanking libraries for their vital role in society.

Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant and industrialist, invested heavily in spaces of learning. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, nine of the libraries he helped found in-state are still at work today: Collinsville, Elk City, El Reno, Frederick, Hobart, Perry, Sapulpa, Tahlequah, and Wagoner.

Eligible grant recipients are invited to share stories highlighting their place in library history and showing the funds at work as part of a digital maps project, Carnegie Libraries Across America.