Grand Island Public Library to Receive $10,000 Gift from Carnegie Corporation

Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Public Library has been selected to receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the approximately 1,280 Carnegie libraries that continue to serve their communities across the United States. Between 1886 and 1917, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide. Of those, about 750 remain in their original buildings, while others, like Grand Island’s, have evolved to meet the growing needs of their communities.

Grand Island’s first public library opened in 1884 in a downtown law office. In 1904, Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the city’s second library at 321 W. 2nd Street—a building dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 and is now listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Nebraska State Register. The current library opened in 1974, expanded in 2007 and underwent a major renovation in 2018.

“This gift honors the history of Carnegie Libraries and the role they have played in communities nationwide for more than a century,” said Library Director Celine Swan.

“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy’ that ‘strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man,’” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and former head of the University of Oxford. “We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”

The Grand Island Public Library will receive the gift in January 2026 to support local services, programs and community engagement in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Community members are encouraged to share their photos, memories and stories related to the Grand Island Public Library at www.carnegielibraries.org.

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