Page "Andrew Carnegie" Paragraph 38

Among his many philanthropic efforts, the establishment of public libraries throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries was especially prominent.

Carnegie libraries, as they were commonly called, were built in many places.

The first was opened in 1883 in Dunfermline.

His method was to build and equip, but only on condition that the local authority matched that by providing the land and a budget for operation and maintenance.

To secure local interest, in 1885, he gave $ 500, 000 to Pittsburgh for a public library, and in 1886, he gave $ 250, 000 to Allegheny City for a music hall and library ; and $ 250, 000 to Edinburgh for a free library.

In total Carnegie funded some 3, 000 libraries, located in 47 US states, and also in Canada, the United Kingdom, what is now the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Fiji.

He also donated £ 50, 000 to help set up the University of Birmingham in 1899.