Whether you are currently working in a Carnegie library or not, history lovers will be sure to enjoy Free to All: Carnegie Libraries & American Culture, 1890-1920.

Familiar landmarks in hundreds of American towns, Carnegie libraries today seem far from controversial. In Free to All, however, Abigail A. Van Slyck shows that the classical façades and symmetrical plans of these buildings often mask a complex and contentious history.

“The whole story is told here in this book. Carnegie’s wishes, the conflicts among local groups, the architecture, development of female librarians. It’s a rich and marvelous story, lovingly told.”—Alicia Browne, Journal of American Culture

Contact us if you’d like to add this book to your summer reading list!