Hays Public Library
The Hays Public Library has received 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.
Construction of the original Hays Public Library was funded by an $8,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation in 1910 and opened on July 22, 1911. It is one of 59 Carnegie Libraries in Kansas built through this historic program.
“As an original Carnegie Library, we are proud to carry on Andrew Carnegie’s legacy more than a century later,” said HPL Director Brandon Hines. “The phrase ‘Let there be light’ is still carved above our entrance, symbolizing his belief that knowledge should be free and open to everyone. It’s a promise that the library will always be a place where anyone can find the access they need to resources, tools, and information that help our community thrive.”
“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.”
A committee of HPL staff will determine how best to use the gift.
Patrons are invited to share their Hays Public Library photos, stories, and community celebrations at carnegielibraries.org.