Carnegie Public Library in Olathe. Photo courtesy Johnson County Museum collection, JoCoHistory.
Thursday, Sep. 14, 2023
Women, Carnegie, and the Public Library
In 1894, there were only around 400 public libraries in the United States—almost half of which (179) were in Massachusetts alone. These community libraries were typically funded by local philanthropists, often as a memorial bequest. In an era where most did not graduate high school, books were considered a vital component of continuing education, yet were still clearly out of reach for many.