Children reading books at Cape Girardeau, MO, Carnegie Libraries

Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape Girardeau, MOVisit the Library and Archives Being a reading specialist teacher, I have tried to instill a love of reading in my children from the very beginning. The summer reading programs at Cape Girardeau Public Library have played a large part in their development as readers. As my mother has played a huge part…

Canon City Public Library Colorado Carnegie

Cañon City, CO

Cañon City, COVisit the Library and Archives I love our Carnegie Library here in Cañon City, Colorado. Thirty-five years ago, I brought my children to this library, and now I bring my grandchildren here. I have also secured a position working here as the library director. I could not be more excited for the 250th…

Stillwater, MN 55082

Stillwater, MN

Stillwater, MNVisit the Library and Archives My first paid job was working as a shelver at the Stillwater Public Library one summer during my high school years. I loved getting lost among the stacks with the books I was supposed to be reshelving, and I also loved leading story time with children in the community.…

Sedalia Public Library Sedalia, Missouri 65301

Sedalia, MO

Sedalia, MOVisit the Library and Archives In the late 1970s, I was working on my master’s degree one summer and living in a college town 30 miles from Sedalia. I was in transition to a new apartment in Sedalia, where I taught junior high students. I spent a lot of time in there waiting for…

Kirlin Public Library, Indiana

Kirklin, IN

Kirklin, INVisit the Library and Archives I have been the director here since 2004. In that time, I have seen thousands of patrons walk through our doors. We are a small, rural community, and our Carnegie Library is vital to our town. It was built in 1913 and placed on the National Register of Historic…

Lavonia-Carnegie Library, Lavonia, GA 30553

Lavonia, GA

Lavonia, GAVisit the Library and Archives When I was five, my family moved to Lavonia, Georgia, just a short walk from the Lavonia-Carnegie Library. That library quickly became my second home — I spent countless hours there, devouring nearly every children’s book on the shelves. It was where my love of stories began and where…

Columbus Branch New York, New York 10019

New York, NY

New York, NYVisit the Library and Archives In the 1950s, the Columbus branch was my library. My school did not have a library, and we had few books at home, but I could take out six books a week from the library. Every Friday, I would walk to 51st Street and 10th Avenue and climb…

Detroit Lakes Public Library, Detroit Lakes MN 56501

Detroit Lakes, MN

Detroit Lakes, MNVisit the Library and Archives Now in its 112th year of continuous operation as a public library, our community celebrates the library being the crown jewel of downtown Detroit Lakes. From the city’s Christmas tree to concerts, author events, children’s programs, writing workshops, and so much more, our small town is beyond grateful…

Williams County Public Library, Bryan Ohio 43506

Bryan, OH

Bryan, OHVisit the Library and Archives The Carnegie Library has always been a source of pride for our community, a reminder of the importance of free access to knowledge and gathering spaces. Built in 1903, the building has stood for generations, shaping the lives of countless residents. One of the most meaningful experiences for me…

Maquoketa Public Library, Maquoketa, Iowa 52060

Maquoketa, IA

Maquoketa, IAVisit the Library and Archives I do remember getting my library card as a child — probably somewhere around the mid to late 1950s. I remember fondly librarian Miss Joles. Then, I was mostly interested in horse-related (the entire Walter Farley Black Stallion series, a biography of Man O’War, for example) and other animal-related…