Crown Point Community Library to Receive $10,000 Gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York

The Crown Point Community Library will receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by 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 roughly 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States.

Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. Approximately 750 of them continue to use their original buildings, while others have moved to new locations. Opened in 1908, the Crown Point Community Library is one of 164 Carnegie Libraries built in Indiana through this remarkable program. Of those, 106 continue to serve their communities as public libraries today. Indiana holds the distinction of having more Carnegie Libraries than any other state, and the Crown Point Community Library is proud to carry forward that legacy as part of this enduring chapter in library history.

 “We are deeply honored to be recognized by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and to receive this generous gift as part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative. The Crown Point Community Library’s roots as a Carnegie Library are a meaningful part of our community’s history, and this recognition reminds us of the enduring legacy of Andrew Carnegie’s vision for free and equitable access to knowledge. This gift will help us celebrate that legacy while continuing to invest in the Library’s programs, resources, and connections that strengthen our community today,” said Julie Wendorf, Library Director.

“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 Crown Point Community Library will receive the gift in January 2026. For more information about this initiative, visit: crownpointlibrary.org/carnegielibrary/.