Mount Ayr Library Receives Gift
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by Jeff Snyder
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — Last month the Mount Ayr Public Library was notified that they would receive a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The grant was a gift from a fund established and managed by the Carnegie Corporation and was allocated to the Mount Ayr Public Library in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Being that it is a gift the library is free to use the money in any way they see fit.
At the turn of the 20th century Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest people on earth. He amassed his fortunes by developing the steel industry that became the literal backbone of the industrial revolution. Carnegie’s fortune would rival the Elon Musk’s of today’s world when adjusted for inflation.
Carnegie realized the importance of giving back to the communities that he benefited from as his steel empire rose and changed the outlook of a modern America. One of his ardent beliefs was that education and knowledge were key elements of a successful nation and successful individuals. As a result he launched a nationwide campaign to build libraries throughout the country, in particular rural America where resources were scarce.
One of the few stipulations the foundation placed on the communities that were to receive grants for library construction was the mandatory involvement of the communities themselves. Carnegie, as an astute businessman, felt that learning facilities had a better chance of producing positive outcomes if the towns or cities that received a library construction grant were better equipped to succeed if the town had a stake in the game.
There are approximately 1,350 Carnegie libraries still in operation throughout the country of the more than 2000 that were built with Carnegie’s vast fortune. Each of the libraries were in line to receive the $10,000 grant.
When she received an email about the gift, Mount Ayr Librarian Mary Katherine Gepner was initially a little skeptical about its authenticity.
“Truthfully I wondered if it was real,” she said. “I mean, you know, even libraries get scammed nowadays.”
Gepner indicated that she called library board member Darrell Dodge to verify if the gift was the real thing. Dodge assured that the gift was for real. A letter, along with a check made out to the City of Mount Ayr, arrived shortly after the initial e-mail communication.
Gepner stated that she would like a portion of the monies to be used to help expand the children’s area in the building and perhaps buy a larger table for the kids to sit around during craft time.
