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, 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…
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, 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…
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, 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…
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, 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…
Jacksonville, ILVisit the Library and Archives I have such happy memories visiting this library. Wonderful smells, beautiful architecture, and ornate shelving. I marveled at the second story’s glass flooring that helped keep the area alight. Hot summer visits to the children’s section in the basement were a cool relief in the 1960s before most had…
Elroy, WIVisit the Library and Archives The best job in the world is to run a Carnegie Library in rural America. I have gotten to know, help, and share in the growth of a community of 1,356 people. Even with that small of a size, we average over 100 people a day coming to our…