The Le Mars Public Library received a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the library has announced. The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States and honoring the roughly 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States.
The library received the gift at the end of January, and, according to the Carnegie Corporation, may use the funds to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country, further the library’s mission, and to benefit the community. In a press release, library director Shirley Taylor says the library was still eligible for the grant despite moving out of the Carnegie building in 1976.
Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917, including one in Le Mars that was opened in 1903. Chapter CD of the P.E.O. helped to secure $10,000 for the library just two years after the chapter opened in Le Mars. Current members of the chapter were invited to the library on Monday in recognition of their continuing impact in the community.
The Le Mars Public Library is currently preparing for its 150th anniversary celebration, which will kick off with a Chamber Coffee on March 11th.
