Norfolk library awarded $10,000 through Carnegie initiative

Press release

NORFOLK, Neb. — The Norfolk Public Library has received a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie.

The award is part of “Carnegie Libraries 250,” an initiative marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and recognizing the roughly 1,280 Carnegie libraries still serving communities across the United States.

Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. About 750 still operate in their original buildings. The Norfolk Public Library, which opened in 1911, is one of 69 Carnegie libraries built in Nebraska through the historic program.

“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy,’” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. “We are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”

Library officials said they are evaluating how the $10,000 gift will be used to benefit the community.