Andrew Carnegie

Celebrating Andrew Carnegie and Hobart's Public Library November 25th

November 25 marks the birth of the man who helped establish 2500 public libraries around the world.

Remembering Andrew Carnegie

Each November 11 offers an opportunity to celebrate the birthday of Andrew Carnegie, born in 1835, and to reflect on his enduring belief that knowledge should be available to everyone. After building a successful career in the steel industry, Carnegie devoted much of his fortune to philanthropy, with public libraries among his most influential causes.

Carnegie believed that a free library could help people educate themselves, improve their circumstances, and strengthen their communities. His library program helped fund the construction of thousands of library buildings, especially in towns willing to provide a site and commit local support for ongoing operations.

A Library for Hobart, Oklahoma

Hobart became part of this nationwide library movement through the partnership at the heart of Carnegie's program: philanthropic assistance joined with civic responsibility. Judge J.R. Tolbert is given much of the credit for securing the $10,000 donation in 1911, from the Carnegie Foundation in New York City. He did this on his own initiative because he felt our community needed a public library. The city of Hobart was required to buy the lot for the building and agree to commit to contribute $1,000 each year to its support. The citizens of Hobart raised the money to buy the lot, and the building was ready for occupancy in September of 1912.

A Legacy Worth Celebrating

On Andrew Carnegie's birthday, Hobart can celebrate both his generosity and the determination of local citizens who turned an opportunity into a lasting public institution. Their combined efforts reflect a principle that still guides libraries today: access to books, information, and learning enriches individuals and strengthens the whole community.

Celebration

Our library will be hosting a celebration of Andrew Carnegie's birthday on Wednesday, November 25th, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Come join is for puncha nd cookies on that day and pay tribute to the man who recognized the importance of free access to books and the value of continuing to gain knowledge at any age. Our library not only provides books, but computers are available for research and access to the internet. It is a meeting place for numerous groups and provides activities for children throughout the year. Thank you, Andrew Carnegie, for the gernerosity you displayed and to our town leaders and the citizens who had the foresight to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain the funds.