Introduction

There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie, a highly influential philanthropist and businessman, dedicated much of his life and self-made fortune to educational causes.

His strongest philanthropic initiative, driven by his strong belief in and passion for free education, was the creation of 2,509 free public libraries around the world. In total, he spent $2,556,600 on the construction of 111 libraries in Ontario and another 14 elsewhere in Canada. These funds contributed significantly to the development of literacy in small communities across this province. Learn more about the Carnegie Foundation.

Carnegie libraries still in operation

This list includes all the Carnegie libraries in Ontario that are still operating as public libraries.

Amherstburg Branch (Essex County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 8, 1911
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • C. Howard Crane, Architect

Beaverton Public Library (Brock Township Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 28, 1910
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, architect

Bracebridge Public Library

  • Received grant March 23, 1906
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • G.M. Miller, architect

Brockville Public Library

  • Opened August 13, 1904; Received grant on April 13, 1903
  • Received $17,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • B. Dillon, Architect

Brussels Branch (Huron County Library)

  • Opened 1909; received grant March 13, 1909
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Mr. Ireland, architect

Campbellford (Trent Hills Public Library)

  • Received grant on January 6, 1911
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Clinton Branch (Huron County Library)

  • Addition in 1915; received grant January 6, 1915
  • Received $4,900 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J. Ades Fowler, architects

Dresden Branch (Chatham-Kent Public Library)

  • Built in 1913; Received grant on November 27, 1906
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Durham Branch (West Grey Public Library)

  • Opened in July 1912; Received grant on January 6, 1911
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, Architect

Elmira Branch (Region of Waterloo Public Library)

  • Opened December 26, 1913; Received grant on March 18, 1911
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, Architect

Elora Branch (Wellington County Public Library)

  • Received grant on March 23, 1909
  • Received $6,400 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.F.Sheppard, architect

Fergus Branch (Wellington County Public Library)

  • Received grant on January 29, 1908
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Fort Frances Library

  • Received grant on May 8, 1914
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, Architect

Fort William (Thunder Bay Public Library — Brodie Branch)

  • Opened on April 29, 1912; Received grant in 1908
  • Received $50,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Harry Scott and Hood, Architects

Goderich Branch (Huron County Library)

  • Opened March 3, 1905; Received grant on March 14,1902
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.A. Fowler, architect

Hanover Public Library

  • Received grant on May 15, 1906
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, Architect

Harriston Branch (Wellington County Public Library)

  • Received grant on May 8, 1908
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, architect

Hespeler Branch (Cambridge Public Library)

  • Received grant in 1923
  • Received $14,500 from the Carnegie Foundation

Kenora Public Library

  • Received grant on May 21, 1913
  • Received $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • John Manuel, Architect

Kincardine Branch (Bruce County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 10, 1906
  • Received $5,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.W. Drake, Architect

Kingsville Branch (Essex County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 8, 1911
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • C. Howard Crane, Architect

Lindsay Public Library (City of Kawartha Lakes)

  • Opened June 28, 1904; Received grant on January 23, 1902
  • Received $13,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • George Martwell Miller, Architects

Listowel Branch (North Perth Public Library)

  • Opened in 1907; Received grant on November 25, 1903
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, Architect

Lucknow Branch (Bruce County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 20, 1905
  • Received $7,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Beaumont Jarvis, Architect

Mitchell Public Library (West Perth Public Library)

  • Received grant on March 21, 1908
  • Received $6,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, architect

Mount Forest Branch (Wellington County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 10, 1909
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • George Gray, architect

New Hamburg Branch (Region of Waterloo Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 30, 1912
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • James A. Russell, Architect

New Liskeard Branch (Temiskaming Shores Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 16, 1910
  • Received $10,900 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Angus & Angus, Architects

Orangeville Public Library

  • Received grant on June 2, 1904
  • Received $12,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Beaumont Jarvis, Architect

Ottawa Public Library — Rosemount Branch

  • Opened in November, 1918; Received grant on March 31, 1917
  • Received $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library

  • Opened on February 3rd, 1914
  • Received $26,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Forster & Clark Architects

Palmerston Branch (Wellington County Public Library)

  • Received grant on February 4, 1902
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W. Frye Colwill, architect

Paris Branch (Brant County Public Library)

  • Opened July 27, 1904
  • Received grant of $10,000 on January 2, 1903

Parkhill Branch (Middlesex County Public Library)

  • Opened July 28, 1915; Received grant on January 14, 1914
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, Architect

Pembroke Public Library

  • Constructed in 1912
  • Received grant on December 24, 1907
  • Received $14,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Francis C. Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, Architects

Penetanguishene Public Library

  • Received grant on December 13, 1907
  • Received $13,000 from the Carnegie foundation
  • Charles P. Baird, architect

Picton Branch (Prince Edward County Public Library)

  • Opened on December 14, 1907; Received grant in early 1906
  • Received $12,500 from the Carnegie Foundation

Port Elgin Branch (Bruce County Public Library)

  • Received grant on March 9, 1907
  • Received $8,800 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • S.G. Kingsey, Architect

Port Hope Public Library

  • Constructed in 1913
  • Received $10 000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A Mahoney, Architect

Renfrew Public Library

  • Received grant on March 16, 1915
  • Received $16,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Mr. Millson, architect

St. Mary's Public Library

  • Opened July 1905; Received grant on March 8, 1904
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.A. Humphris, Architect

Seaforth Branch (Huron County Library)

  • Opened April 1912; grant received July 20, 1908
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • John Finlayson, architects

Shelburne Public Library

  • Opened in 1912; Received grant on January 21, 1911
  • Received $6,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.A. McKenzie, Architect

Smith Falls Public Library

  • Constructed in 1903
  • Received $11,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • G.M. Bayley, Architect

Stirling Public Library

  • Received grant on April 13, 1914
  • Received $5,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Stratford Public Library

  • Constructed in 1903
  • Received $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.A. Russell, Architect

Tavistock Branch (Oxford County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 13, 1914
  • Received $7,500 from the Carnegie Foundation

Teeswater Branch (Bruce County Public Library)

  • Received grant on April 8, 1907
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, Architect

Thorold Public Library

  • Received grant on April 26, 1902
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.E. Nicholson, architect

Toronto Public Library

  • Beaches Branch
  • Birge-Carnegie Branch
  • Central Reference Branch
  • High Park Branch
  • Queen & Lisgar Branch
  • Riverdale Branch
  • Western (Annette Street) Branch
  • Weston Branch
  • Wychwood Branch
  • Yorkville Branch

Walkerton Branch (Bruce County Public Library)

  • Received grant on March 29, 1911
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • George Gray, Architect

Watford Branch (Lambton County Public Library)

  • Received grant on May 17, 1912
  • Received $6,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, Architect

Woodstock Public Library

  • Constructed in 1909; Received grant July 6, 1905
  • Received $24,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Chadwick & Beckett, Architects
  • Property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act

Carnegie libraries that have been adaptively reused

The following Carnegie buildings no longer operate as libraries, but instead have been adapted and now serve other purposes within the community.

Aylmer

  • Received grant on November 21, 1911
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Ayr

  • Received grant on December 24, 1909
  • Received $5,200 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, architect

Barrie

  • Received grant on July 23, 1914
  • Received $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Chapman & McGiffin, architects

Brampton

  • Received grant on April 11, 1902
  • Received $12,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Wickson & Gregg, architects

Brantford Public Library

  • Opened July 27, 1904
  • Received grant on April 11, 1902
  • Received $48,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Stewart, Stewart & Taylor, architects

Dundas

  • Received grant on December 30, 1904
  • Received $12,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Chapman & McGiffin, architects

Essex

  • Received grant on January 6, 1911
  • Received $6,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.C. Pennington, architect

Exeter

  • Received grant on January 2, 1913
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Forest

  • Received grant on May 16, 1911
  • Received $5,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Galt (Cambridge)

  • Received grant on April 11, 1902
  • Received $23,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Fred Mellish, architect

Glencoe

  • Received grant on November 11, 1914
  • Received $5,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Gravenhurst

  • Authorized grant on March 24, 1906
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation in 1922
  • Constructed in 1923

Grimsby

  • Received grant on January 6, 1911
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.E. Nicholson, architect

Hamilton

  • Received grant on March 23, 1909
  • Received $100,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.W. Peene, architect

Kemptville

  • Received grant on April 23, 1906
  • Received $3,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.S. Allaster, architect

Ingersoll

  • Received grant on June 29, 1908
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Merritton

  • Received grant on March 31, 1916
  • Received $8,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.E. Nicholson, architect

Midland

  • Received grant on March 21, 1910
  • Received $12,500 from the Carnegie Foundation

Milverton

  • Received grant on December 24, 1908
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • J.A. Russell, architect

Niagara Falls

  • Received grant on December 8, 1905
  • Received $15,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Norwich

  • Received grant on May 8, 1915
  • Received $7,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Edward Pollack, architect

Orillia

  • Received grant on April 10, 1909
  • Received $13,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Mr. Crocker, Architect

Perth

  • Received grant on February 13, 1906
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Peterborough

  • Received grant on March 21, 1908
  • Received $30,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Preston

  • Received grant on February 13, 1909
  • Received $12,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.E. Binning, architect

Simcoe

  • Received grant on January 31, 1910
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Sheppard & Calvin, architect

St. Thomas

  • Received grant on March 20, 1903
  • Received $27,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Stouffville

  • Received grant on April 28, 1913
  • Received $5,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • F.F. Saunders, architect

Central Reference Branch (Toronto Public Library)

  • Received grant on January 23, 1903
  • Received $275,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Wickson & Gregg, A.H. Chapman, architects

Queen and Lisgar Branch (Toronto Public Library)

  • Received grant on January 23, 1903
  • Received $25,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Wallaceburg

  • Received grant on March 24, 1906
  • Received $11,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • A.M. Piper, architect

Waterloo

  • Received grant on July 18, 1902
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation

Welland

  • Received grant on December 8, 1913
  • Received $25,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Norman Kearns, architect

Whitby

  • Received grant on April 8, 1911
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect

Carnegie libraries that have been demolished

This is a list of Carnegie libraries that have been demolished or destroyed.

Berlin

  • Received grant on March 14, 1902
  • Received $40,900 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Chas Knechtel, J.J. Beck (addition) architects
  • Building demolished in 1962

Chatham

  • Received grant on February 13, 1902
  • Received $19,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • T.J. Wilson, architect

Collingwood

  • Received grant on August 16, 1902
  • Received $14,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W. & W. Stewart, architects
  • Building destroyed by fire in 1963

Cornwall

  • Received grant on December 21, 1901
  • Received $8,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Building demolished in 1956

Grand Valley

  • Received grant on February 13, 1909
  • Received $7,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • George Gray, architect
  • Building destroyed by tornado in 1985

Guelph

  • Received grant on October 17, 1901
  • Received $24,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W. Frye Colwill, architect
  • Building demolished in 1964

Leamington

  • Received grant on March 21, 1910
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Alex Maycock, architect

Mimico Branch (Toronto Public Library)

  • Received grant on February 26, 1914
  • Received $7,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • S. Coon & Son, architects
  • Building demolished in 1966

North Bay

  • Received grant on April 25, 1911
  • Received $16,395 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Angus & Angus, architect

Oshawa

  • Received grant on November 24, 1906
  • Received $14,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Carrerre & Hastings, architects
  • Building demolished in 1956

Ottawa

  • Received grant on November 6, 1901
  • Received $100,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • E.L. Horwood, architect

Sarnia

  • Received grant on January 10, 1902
  • Received $20,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • M.R. Burrowes, architect
  • Building demolished in 1960

Sault Ste. Marie

  • Received grant on December 14, 1901
  • Received $15,500 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • H. Russell Halton, Demar & Murdoch (2nd building), architects
  • Building demolished in 1960

St. Catharines

  • Received grant on December 31, 1901
  • Received $25,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • Sydney R. Badgley, architect
  • Building demolished in 1977

Tillsonburg

  • Received grant on January 2, 1913
  • Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • W.A. Mahoney, architect
  • Building replaced by newer library in 1974

Windsor

  • Received grant on February 13, 1901
  • Received $27,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
  • John Scott & Co., architect