Celebrating 110 Years: The Carnegie Legacy Continues

For 110 years, the Clearwater Public Library System has connected generations of residents with opportunities to learn, discover and connect with their community.

The library will mark that milestone with “Celebrating 110 Years: The Carnegie Legacy Continues,” from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave.

The celebration will look back at the beginnings of public library service in Clearwater and recognize the generations of residents who have made the library part of the community for more than a century.

A $10,000 Gift That Started a Library

Clearwater’s public library story dates to 1916, when philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $10,000 to the city of Clearwater to help establish its first public library. The Carnegie library was built on the site where the Main Library stands today, beginning a legacy of public library service that has continued for more than a century.

A Carnegie Connection 110 Years Later

That Carnegie connection continues in the library’s 110th year. In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Carnegie Foundation has awarded the Clearwater Public Library System a $10,000 grant — the same amount Carnegie donated to help establish Clearwater’s first public library in 1916.

The two $10,000 contributions, separated by 110 years, connect an important moment in the library’s beginnings with its service to the Clearwater community today.

110 Years of Service in Clearwater

While the library has changed considerably since 1916, its role as a place for learning, discovery and community connection continues. Today, the Clearwater Public Library System provides residents with access to books, technology, educational resources, creative spaces, programs and opportunities to connect with one another.

The anniversary program will reflect on the Carnegie legacy and 110 years of library service in Clearwater.