Carnegie libraries
"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 Andrew Carnegie.
Carnegie Libraries in Ontario
* Photos courtesy Ontario Public libraries and/or public.
Click on photos to enlarge (where available).
Operating Public Libraries
This list includes all of 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 Jul 20, 1908
- Received $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation
- John Finlayson, architects
Shelburne Public Library
- Opened in 1912; Received grant on Jan 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
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
Adaptively Re-used
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
Toronto Public Library — Central Reference Branch
- Received grant on January 23, 1903
- Received $275,000 from the Carnegie foundation
- Wickson & Gregg, A.H. Chapman, architects
Toronto Public Library — Queen & Lisgar Branch
- 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
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, architect
- 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, architect
- 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
