Newnan Carnegie Library to receive $10,000 Gift from Carnegie Corporation

From City of Newnan Press Release

The Newnan Carnegie Library will receive a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie.

The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the approximately 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States.

“We are grateful to be the recipients of this gift, which honors the history our library has played in our community,” said Susan Crutchfield, Director of Newnan’s Carnegie Library.  “We look forward to using it to enhance the many services we offer.”

Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. Approximately 750 of them continue to use their original buildings, while others have moved to new locations.

Opened in 1904, the Carnegie library of Newnan is one of many Carnegie Libraries in Georgia built through this historic program.

“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy’ that ‘strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man,’” said Dame Louise Richardson, President of the Carnegie Corporation and former head of the University of Oxford. “We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”

The Newnan Carnegie Library will receive the gift in January 2026 and looks forward to sharing how it will be used with the community.