Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-11
CARNEGIE PLANNED
80 LIBRARIES HERE
Gave 1880, 900 for Buildings,
of Which n Are Complete
and Fitted by City
22D IS NEARLY FINISHED

Andrew Carnegie. in 1908 planned
,or tho erection of thirty branch librnr-
los in the city of Philadelphia, which
he was accustomed to call MS Secon"
home ,,
And workmen are climbing and nam
mering over the twenty second OF thlS
group of thirty on the day that orihsS
news of the death of the Lara vi
Skibo." The twenty second horarF IN
the chain is the Kingsessing hranch,
now being built at Fifty first street ana
Chester avenue. Flags are flying nj
hnlf mast on all of them.
Mr. Carnegie made his proposal to
PHILADELPHIA through John thomson.
late librarian of the Free Library of
PHILADELPHIA. sixteen years ago lie OF
fered 81 800 900 for the erection OF IN"
branch libraries. provided that the clty
sunnlv thp sites for the Libraries, and
nurchnse the books and guarantee the
cost of maintenance. These provisions
were in accordance with those enacted
by Mr.. Carnegie in his library donations
to other cities.
The offer was made MS the result of "A
desire on the part Of Philadelphia library
authorities to erect great central
library somewhere in tn" city. At the
time there were already fourteen small
branch libraries.
Favored Branch Libraries
The matter was brought to the at
tention of Mr. Carnegie. While he tclt
kindly toward the establishing OF
central library, he felt that branch
libraries answered to greater extent
the needs of the city.
In an interview with Mr.. Thomson In
New York in January, 1903, when the
needs of the Philadelphia Library w"r"
fully discussed. Mr.. Carnegie said that
he did not propOS" to intervene in tn"
matter of the projected central library
building, which he said, he felt assured
was in good hands, but that he would
gladly give 81 500. 900 for the erection
cf thirty branch libraries. with best
wishes for Philadelphia, which for many
years l considered my second home.
The city was required to bind itself
to pay the cost of the books needed for
each branch as it is erected, and also to
appropriate $1,000 annually for its
! maintenance. Mr. Carnegie was anX-
ious. also, that the plans for each build
. ing should provide for a spacious lee
ture room, and that the circulation and
other rooms should be thoroughly well
fitted up.
Mr.. Carnegie took quiet interest
in the Philadelphia Free Library for
! years.
While believing that q fine central
library was a necessity as well as a
\ monument to the city and that no IL
B brary could do without such Il center
3 from which the executive work can be-
carried out, it was Mr. Carnegie s Opin-
ion that branch libraries are really "the
popular institution.
Interview Less Than Half Hour
Mr.. Thomson's interview with Mr..
Carnegie in New York did not last quite
e half an hour. At the close of the
discussion, in which he took the live
liest interest, Mr.. Carnegie said:
1t will give me the greatest pleasure
: to provide 81 ,500,0 600 to carry out this
scheme of thirty branch libraries for
Philadelphia. Leaning slightly for
ward from his chair toward the city's
librarian, Mr.. Carnegie added: "NIr.
n y.
On January Il, 1901. City Councils
by ordinance authorized the Mayor to
Z execute an agreement between the city
and the board Of trustees of the Free
Library of Philadelphia to carry into
effect the offer of Mr. Carnegie.
The first building given the city by
Mr.. Carnegie was opened June &c. 1906.
1t was the West Philadelphia branch,
Fortieth and Walnut streets, erected
on land presented to the city by Clar-
ence H. Clark
Following closely upon the opening of
the first, the Frankford Branch was
opened at FrankfOrd avenue and Over
ington street, October ?. 1906. and the
? Tacony Branch, TOrresdale avenue and
Knorr street, November 81, 1906.
In all there are twenty seven free
library branches in the city. and
twenty one of these were erected
through the generosity of Mr. Carnegie
The twenty second will be ready in the
fall.
The Carnegie libraries in the city are
located at S711 Germantown avenue
Warden drive and Midvale avenue
Falls of Schuylkill; FrankfOrd avenu,
and Overington street; Vernon Park
Germantown; Sixty fifth street ant
Girard avenue. Frankford avenue anC
Hartel street, Holmesburg Lehigh ave
nue. and Sixth street, Indiana avenu,
and + street, Fleming and Dupon
streets, Manayunk; Hunting Park ant
Wayne avenues, Seventieth street anC
Woodland avenue, Twentieth and Shunl
streets, Indiana avenue and Rchmont
street, 24O7 -2417 South Broad street
Fifth and Ellsworth streets, Seventeenth
and Spring Garden streets. Torresdal
avenue and Knorr street, Fortieth an,
Walnut streets and Manayunk avenu
and Osborn street, Wissahickon.