History Corner: Carnegie Libraries
CARNEGIE LIBRARIES IN AOTEAROA
Andrew Carnegie believed that the rich had a moral obligation to give away their fortunes. He also believed that knowledge was power; these two beliefs would spur on the funding of 2,509 libraries throughout the English-speaking world, including four libraries in Australia and eighteen here in New Zealand from 1883 1929.
Carnegie was a Scottish-born steel industrialist who, in the late nineteenth century, surpassed JD Rockerfeller to become the richest man in America. He devoted the last two decades of his life to largescale philanthropy, supporting libraries, education, music and peace projects worldwide. He was also a supporter of Melvil Dewey’s campaign for ‘simplified spelling,’ removing or replacing unnecessary letters in his correspondence.
Unlike most modern funding agencies, Carnegie’s library grants required little paperwork, although they did come with strings attached. Prospective borough councils simply needed to state their area’s population and needs. Once the application was approved, they’d have to agree to Carnegie’s conditions – the councils would provide an annual sum towards the libraries’ upkeep, and the libraries would remain free to the people. Carnegie’s definition of ‘free’ was that all people in the borough aged fourteen or older should be able to borrow one free book per week.
New Zealand was already fairly well-serviced by athenaeums and mechanics’ institute libraries, but these services were more likely to be subscription-based. Carnegie’s offer of capital to build imposing new town libraries and re-home the athenaeums’ collections often seemed too good an offer to refuse. However, several New Zealand borough councils struggled with Carnegie’s definition of ‘free’ library services, maintaining the simply offering free reading room access was close enough.
Seven of New Zealand’s twenty-five applications were rejected, including an application for a library in Parnell which was deemed to be too elaborate. One library which did receive funding was later stung for not following Carnegie’s rules – Hastings’ Carnegie library was destroyed by the 1931 earthquake, but the Carnegie Corporation refused to fund a replacement because Hastings had not stuck to the conditions of their original grant.
Carnegie stopped funding new public libraries in 1917, taking advice that the money would be better invested in training library staff. The Carnegie Corporation continued to support New Zealand libraries in the 1930s and 1940s, paying for librarians to train overseas. They also supported research into the state of New Zealand’s library services, including the 1934 Munn Barr Report.
Some of Aotearoa’s Carnegie-funded libraries have fallen victim to the wrecking ball, but most have been revitalised for new purposes – family history centres, i-sites, restaurants and art galleries. Two, in Marton and Balclutha, still operate as libraries to this day.
Nicole Thorburn; (@nicole_thorburn) is a library assistant and heritage geek at Thamescoromandel District Libraries. She studied history at the University of Waikato, and worked in both museums and archives before moving into libraries. In her spare time, she writes Adventures in the Archives, a monthly column about the quirkier side of Thames’ history for the Grahamstown Gazette.