ontrak_autumn_2017_new

An inside view of Gresham's library.
“I RESOLVED IF WEALTH ever came to me, that
it should be used to establish free libraries.”
It might seem a lofty proclamation from an
impoverished young Scottish immigrant. If
his peers chuckled at the arrogance of voicing
such a desire, in later years they may have
watched in amazement as Andrew Carnegie’s
fervent hope became reality.
He fought his way from lowly messenger
boy to king of the steel industry. Dusting
off his long-held dream, he began granting
library funds to cities. Cities had to show the
need for a library, provide the land and be able
to pay yearly maintenance funds of at least 10
percent of the cost of the building.
During his lifetime, he provided funding for
nearly two thousand libraries nationwide,
thirty-one of which were in Oregon. Of all
the states requesting a grant, only two were
able to fulfill their promise to provide land and
maintenance funds in every community that
was offered a grant. Oregon was one.
I began my exploration of Oregon’s Carnegie
libraries out of a fascination with old books.
Beyond the statistics and dollar signs and floor
plans, I discovered so much more than books.
I found people with a passion for community,
for education, for equality between sex and
race. I found people eager to sacrifice and
fight for what they believed they and their
neighbors deserved, so that today, whether
adult or child, black or white, male or female,
we can visit a library, lounge and read, use a
computer or borrow a movie. And that has a
far greater value than numerical worth.