...Okay no, Hart House Library is not for sale!
However, as Larry T. Nix of Library History Buff Blog points out, you can buy one of the original Carnegie libraries in Duluth, Minnesota for less than the cost of a downtown Toronto condo. Only $862,000 folks! The building has been generating revenue by renting office space, but other Carnegie branches have been less fortunate. Just across the bridge in Superior, Wisconsin a Carnegie branch remains abandoned and in search of a purpose.
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who aided the building of 2,500 public and academic libraries between 1883 and 1929. Funding was given gradually over the course of the library's development and this method was largely successful for development. Carnegie also ensured that free service would be given to all patrons once the library had been established. His philosophy was one of success through hard work. Having struggled as an immigrant in a new country, Carnegie was convinced that libraries are essential to personal and professional growth.
Andrew Carnegie's philosophy is greatly admired by the Hart House Library. Although, we can't say that we'll be buying that Duluth library just yet!
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