Carnegie's First Library

Andrew Carnegie made his first contribution of a library in Dumfermline, Scotland, where he was born in a weaver's cottage. He made his fortune after his family immigrated to the United States. Before his death, he donated over $56 million for the construction of over 2500 library buildings throughout the English-speaking world, 1679 of them in the United States, 59 of those in Kansas.

The photo here is of the Dumfermline Library which, unfortunately, was closed for renovation the day I made my way there. The banner for the website is from "my" Carnegie library, the one in Manhattan, Kansas, where I first found my love of books. The library was moved long ago to a more modern building, but if we stepped inside those doors, I could show you where the Nancy Drew shelf belongs.