The Little Rock Public Library (built in 1910), a Carnegie Library, was demolished in 1964. In a fascinating story of chance and commitment to historic preservation, its original columns were preserved, and in 2009, they were installed in front of the “new” main library located a few blocks away from the original Carnegie Library in downtown Little Rock. That library closed in 2023 for a two-year, $31 million renovation. The main library reopened in September 2025, and the columns are now more visible than ever. They are affectionately known locally as the “Carnegie columns,” and they have become something of a mascot for the main library. The main library renovation was funded by a combination of public dollars and private funds. The Central Arkansas Library System is allocating our $10,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York to the renovation project. We feel that the 1910-era columns from the library that Andrew Carnegie helped build in Little Rock are a concrete and meaningful reminder of his lasting belief in the capacity of a public library to be a force of good in our community. The Central Arkansas Library System is proud to uphold that value today.
This story was submitted by a Carnegie Library that received a $10,000 gift as part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative. Did your library receive a gift? Share how you’re spending it here.
