Customer Reviews

Carnegie Libraries Across America: A Public Legacy (Preservation Press Series)

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I became interested in the subject of Carnegie Libraries after having worked as a carpenter in the restoration/transformation of the one in our town. I found this book an excellent resource in the study of that period in American History and the part which Mr. Carnegie played in allowing more Americans to learn about the wider world of their time. It also includes Many wonderful photos of different Carnegie Libraries around the country, most as they originally appeared. I was only slightly dissapointed that the ones I had personally knew weren't pictured. Nevertheless, an excellent resource book for those wanting to study the Carnegie era.

I first became interested in the subject of Carnegie Libraries as a result of a History of Libraries course taken to earn my MLS at Indiana University. Since then, I have personally photographed more than 300 of these architectural gems in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kansas. This book has been a major resource for my research, particularly the state index of Carnegie sites. In the absence of George Bobinski's groundbreaking study from the late 60's (ALA, why haven't you reprinted that one?), Jones' book is the next best thing. Now based in Wichita, I have the pleasure of working across the street from the city's old Carnegie building. Books like this one help to raise the public's consciousness of the treasures they have in these fine libraries. Save the Carnegies!