The Alameda Free Library will receive a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, according to a news release issued by the City of Alameda. The Carnegie Corporation is a foundation established by Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie, who funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917.
This donation is part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, a nationwide program celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the approximately 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities.
“The gift honors both the legacy of Carnegie Libraries and the central role public libraries play in upholding free access to information,” said Library Director Mike Eitner.
Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and former head of the University of Oxford, echoed this sentiment: “Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as cradles of democracy that strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man. We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”
Alameda’s historic Carnegie Library, located at the corner of Oak Street and Santa Clara Avenue, was one of the first three library buildings in California funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1899, according to its Carnegie Libraries listing. Designed in the Classical Revival temple style by San Francisco architects William Wilcox and John Curtis, the Carnegie library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Builders were C.H. Foster and Son of Alameda. It first opened in 1903 and served generations of Alamedans until it closed in 1998, when its library functions were moved to Alameda’s Main Library.
The Main Library is located at 1550 Oak Street and is served by AC Transit routes 21 and 51A. The West End Library is located at 788 Santa Clara Avenue and is also served by AC Transit Route 51A. Bicycle parking racks are available at both libraries. The Bay Farm Island Library is located at 3221 Mecartney Road. All three locations are wheelchair accessible.
For more information, visit the Alameda Free Library website or call 510-747-7777.
