Ocala Carnegie Library

For other Carnegie Libraries, see Carnegie library (disambiguation)

Carnegie Public Library Ocala, Florida 1916

The Ocala Carnegie Library opened in 1916 on Ocklawaha Avenue in Ocala, Florida.^[1] It was one of 10 Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1917.^[2] Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States, Canada, and Europe.^[3]

Constructed in the Spanish Mission architectural style with a red-clay tile roof, Ocala's first public library was a short distance from what is today the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park.^[1] Although the Carnegie library was Ocala's first permanent, physical public library, the city's library collection began in 1886.^[4] Originally a subscription library, its members paid one dollar for a two-year membership.^[4] In 1890, The Women's Library Association assumed responsibility for a public library collection, temporarily housed in the Hotel Ocala.^[4] The Ocala Free Public Library officially began as a circulating collection in 1914 even though the Carnegie library did not open until 1916.^[4] Louise Gamsby was appointed librarian in 1916 and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1951; after retirement, Gamsby continued to serve as a library consultant for many years.^[4] The Carnegie Library was demolished in 1968 to make way for a larger, more modern library facility.^[5]

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