The following list of Carnegie libraries in New York City provides detailed information on

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Carnegie libraries in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, where 67 libraries were built with funds from one grant totaling $5,202,261 (worth some $ million today), awarded by the

Carnegie Corporation of New York The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic fund established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to support education programs across the United States, and later the world. Carnegie Corporation has endowed or otherwise helped to establis ...

on December 8, 1899. Although the original grant was negotiated in 1899, most of the grant money was awarded as the libraries were built between 1901 and 1923. Carnegie libraries were built in all 5 boroughs.

Key

Carnegie libraries in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

, and

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey b ...

, 39 libraries were built and became part of the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...

Carnegie libraries in Manhattan

Carnegie libraries in Staten Island

Carnegie libraries in the Bronx

{, class="wikitable sortable" align="center" ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", Library ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;" class="unsortable" , Image ! width=15% style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", Location{ ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;" class="unsortable" , Notes , -- , align=center , 31 , , Fordham , Fordham Library Center

, 2556 Bainbridge Ave.
, Designed by

McKim, Mead & White McKim, Mead & White was an American architectural firm that came to define architectural practice, urbanism, and the ideals of the American Renaissance in fin de siècle New York. The firm's founding partners Charles Follen McKim (1847–1909), Wil ...

and opened in 1923, this building was the Fordham Library Center, The New York Public Library's central branch in the Bronx, through 2005, when it closed and was replaced by the newly built Bronx Library Center. , -- , align=center , 32 , , High Bridge , , 78 W. 168th St.
, Designed by Carrère & Hastings and opened in 1908. Demolished in 1975 and replaced by a new High Bridge Branch on the same site. , -- , align=center , 33 , , Hunts Point , Hunts Point NYPL 877 Southern Blvd jeh

, 877 Southern Blvd.
, Designed by Carrère & Hastings and completed in 1929, this was the final Carnegie building added to the New York Public Library system. , -- , align=center , 34 , , Kingsbridge , , 3041 Kingsbridge Ave.
, Designed by

and opened May 19, 1905. This branch outgrew its original building and closed in 1958. It is now the Spuyten Duyvil Preschool. , -- , align=center , 35 , , Melrose , Melrose_Library_Branch_1914

, 910 Morris Ave.
, A Carrère & Hastings design, this branch opened January 16, 1914. It was originally four stories but was reduced to two in 1959. , -- , align=center , 36 , , Morrisania , NYPL Bronx Morrisania Library IMG 2780 HLG

NYPL Bronx Morrisania Library IMG 2780 HLG

, 610 E. 169th St.
, Designed by

Babb, Cook & Willard Babb, Cook & Willard was a New York City-based architectural firm established in 1884 that designed many important houses and commercial buildings. The principals of the firm were George Fletcher Babb (1836–1915), Walter Cook (1843–1916), ...

and opened in 1908. , -- , align=center , 37 , , Mott Haven , Mott Haven NYPL Alexander Av & 140 St jeh

, 321 E. 140th St.
, The oldest library building in the Bronx, this branch opened in 1905, designed by

. , -- , align=center , 38 , , Tremont , NYPL Bronx Tremont Library IMG 2803 HLG

, 1866 Washington Ave.
, Designed by Carrère & Hastings and opened in 1905. , -- , align=center , 39 , , Woodstock , Woodstock NYPL 160 St jeh

, 761 E. 160th St.
, Designed by

and opened in 1914.

Carnegie libraries in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

received $1.6 million ($ million today) of the entire grant to construct 21 libraries for the

Brooklyn Public Library The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is the public library system of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is the sixteenth largest public library system in the United States by holding and the seventh by number of visitors. Like the two othe ...

. {, class="wikitable sortable" align="center" ! align=center style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", Library ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;" class="unsortable" , Image ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;", Location ! style="background-color:#CEE0F2;" class="unsortable" , Notes , -- , align=center , 1 , , Arlington , Arlington_Library

, 203 Arlington Ave. at Warwick St. 40°40'50.4"N 73°53'14.0"W , Originally known as the East Branch and officially opened on November 7, 1906; renovated from 1950 to 1952 and in 1980. , -- , align=center , 2 , , Bedford , Bedford BPL Hancock Pl jeh

, 496 Franklin Avenue , This Library plan was recognized as an excellent example of library planning and design in the March 1903 issue of Library Journal. It was built using Carnegie funds. In 2000, an interior renovation and exterior restoration by Sen Architects was completed. , -- , align=center , 3 , , Brownsville , Brownsville_Library

, 61 Glenmore Avenue , The first Brownsville Branch opened in 1905 on the second floor of the Alliance Building after the Hebrew Educational Society donated its books. The Carnegie-built branch, which opened at 61 Glenmore Avenue on December 19, 1908, continues to operate today. , -- , align=center , 4 , , Bushwick , Bushwick BPL jeh

, 340 Bushwick Avenue , Bushwick Library opened in the rented first floor of a church at Montrose Avenue and Humboldt Street in 1903 before moving to its present location on Bushwick Avenue in 1908. , -- , align=center , 5 , , Carroll Park ow Carroll Gardens, BPL Union Clinton jeh

, 396 Clinton Street at Union Street , Designed by William B. Tubby, this location opened at 396 Clinton Street on March 3, 1905, and was originally called the Carroll Park Branch, until the name was changed to Carroll Gardens in 1973. A predecessor library operated out of a rented space at Smith Street and Carroll Streets from 1901 until completion of this building, which still serves the community today. , -- , align=center , 6 , , DeKalb , DeKalb_Library

, 790 Bushwick Avenue , Located on bustling Bushwick Avenue in the neighborhood of the same name, DeKalb Library originally opened its doors on February 11, 1905. One of Brooklyn's most beautiful Carnegie branches, the building was designed by the Brooklyn architect

William Tubby William Bunker Tubby (21 August 1858 – 1944) was an American architect who was particularly notable for his work in New York City. Tubby was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1875.Christopher G ...

in the Classical Revival style. Many of the original features in this three-bay brick and limestone building remain today, including its spacious, high-ceilinged reading rooms. The library was rehabilitated in 1950. , -- , align=center , 7 , , Eastern Parkway , Eastern_Parkway_Library

, 1044 Eastern Parkway , This medium-sized library, built with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie, was designed with a classical limestone facade with large arched windows and entrance portal. , -- , align=center , 8 , , Flatbush , Flatbush Public Library, Brooklyn, 1915

, 22 Linden Blvd. at Flatbush Ave. , Flatbush Library has served patrons in its present location on Linden Boulevard since 1905; it was the sixth library built in Brooklyn with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The building was designed by Rudolphe L. Daus, but an extensive renovation in 1934 has rendered the building almost unrecognizable. , -- , align=center , 9 , , Fort Hamilton , Bay_Ridge_Carnegie_Library

, 9424 Fourth Ave. , This library started out as an independent free library and was absorbed into Brooklyn Public Library in 1901. The building was designed by the Lord & Hewlett architecture firm and formally opened at 9424 Fourth Avenue on October 16, 1907. , -- , align=center , 10 , , Greenpoint , Carnegie_Library

, , The original Greenpoint Library opened in 1906 and was one of Brooklyn's first Carnegie libraries, but the building's deterioration necessitated its replacement in the early 1970s. , -- , align=center , 11 , , Leonard , Leonard Devoe BPL jeh

, 81 Devoe St. at Leonard St., Williamsburg , The Leonard Branch was officially opened on December 1, 1908, at its current site at Devoe and Leonard Streets. The one-story classically styled building, designed by William B. Tubby, has an elegantly designed interior of 10,000 square feet that originally featured molded skylights, wood paneling and wood-trimmed windows. , -- , align=center , 12 , , Macon , Macon-library-brooklyn

, 361 Lewis Avenue, Bedford-Stuyversant , The 11th Carnegie Brooklyn library, beautiful, historic Macon Library is one of the best preserved Carnegie branches in Brooklyn. Opened in 1907, the two-story, Classical Revival-style building retains its original fireplaces, oak paneling, alcoves and wooden benches, along with the warm charm that has welcomed patrons for more than 100 years. , -- , align=center , 13 , , Pacific , Pacific BPL with bus jeh

, 25 4th Avenue at Pacific Street , The Pacific Branch was the first of the Carnegie-funded libraries to open in Brooklyn, on October 8, 1904. Architect Raymond F. Almirall designed the building, at 25 Fourth Avenue, and was hired again as architect after the building suffered structural damages due to BMT subway construction in 1914. Upon its opening, New York Tribune praised the branch for its classical and dignified design. , -- , align=center , 14 , , Prospect ow Park Slope, BPL Prospect Branch jeh

, 431 6th Ave. at 9th St. , This library began life as a small collection of books on natural history in the Litchfield Mansion in Prospect Park. In 1906, the building, designed by Raymond Almirall was finished, using Carnegie funds. , -- , align=center , 15 , , Red Hook , Red Hook Branch, Brooklyn Public Library

Red Hook Branch, Brooklyn Public Library

, , The original Red Hook Library, opened on April 22, 1915, was the only of Brooklyn's Carnegie libraries to be built in the Mediterranean Revival style. The architect, Richard A. Walker, accented the original interior of the building with decorative wooden staircases, pendant light fixtures and clerestory windows. This architectural gem was forced to close in August 1946 after suffering extensive damage from a fire, and was demolished soon after. , -- , align=center , 16 , , Saratoga , Saratoga_Library

, 8 Thomas S Boyland Street , Saratoga Library is a Classical Revival-style Carnegie branch with a distinctive Spanish tile roof and a storied history. Opened in 1908, Saratoga was renovated in 1958, 1974 and 1990. , -- , align=center , 17 , , South , South_Branch_Library

, 51st street and 4th Avenue , South Branch opened to the public on December 9, 1905, on the same site the Sunset Park branch occupies today. The original two-story, Classical Revival-style building, designed by architects Lord & Hewlett, was demolished in 1970. , -- , align=center , 18 , , Stone Avenue , Stone_Avenue_Library

, 581 Mother Gaston Boulevard , Originally constructed to relieve overcrowding at the nearby Brownsville branch, Stone Avenue Library was one of the last Carnegie libraries built in Brooklyn. Officially opened on September 24, 1914, it was originally called the Brownsville Children's Library and is believed to have been the first library in the world devoted exclusively to serving children. Designed by architect William B. Tubby in the

Jacobethan The Jacobethan or Jacobean Revival architectural style is the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the English Renaissance ( ...

style, many of the original architectural details that distinguished the branch as a place for children remain, including the Rookwood storybook fireplace tiles and the original carved wooden benches with rabbit-head finials. , -- , align=center , 19 , , Walt Whitman , St Edwards BPL jeh

, 93 Saint Edwards Street, Ft Greene , Originally called the City Park Branch, this library was renamed to honor

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among ...

(who once lived on nearby Ryerson Street) in 1943, on the 125th anniversary of his birth. The branch once boasted a naval architecture and science collection, to serve the workers of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. , -- , align=center , 20 , , Washington Irving , Washington_Irving_Library

, 360 Irving Ave. Bushwick , Washington Irving Library was the 21st and final Carnegie library built in Brooklyn. , -- , align=center , 21 , , Williamsburg , BPL Williamsburg 240 Division Av jeh

, 240 Division Avenue , Although the branch didn't open until 1905, it is often considered the first of Brooklyn's Carnegie libraries. Thousands, including Mayor

Seth Low Seth Low (January 18, 1850 – September 17, 1916) was an American educator and political figure who served as the mayor of Brooklyn from 1881 to 1885, the president of Columbia University from 1890 to 1901, a diplomatic representative of ...

, came out with much fanfare for a ceremony in November 1903, when a time capsule of documents including a copy of the Carnegie contract was laid in the cornerstone of the building at 240 Division Avenue.

Carnegie libraries in Queens

Queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...

received $240,000 ($ million today) from the grant and built seven libraries for the

Queens Public Library The Queens Public Library (QPL), also known as the Queens Borough Public Library and Queens Library (QL), is the public library for the borough of Queens, and one of three public library systems serving New York City. It is one of the largest ...

, 14-01 Astoria Blvd. , The first Carnegie library completed in Queens. In the 1930s the structure was heavily renovated. Additional renovations took place in the 1960s. $9 million in renovations are planned for 2022–2024. , -- , align=center , 2 , , Elmhurst , Elmhurst QPL jeh

, 86-01 Broadway
, Demolished 2012. , -- , align=center , 3 , , Far Rockaway , , , The third Carnegie library completed in Queens. Destroyed by fire in 1962. , -- , align=center , 4 , , Flushing , , Kissena Boulevard and Main Street , Demolished in 1955Queens Borough Public Library History
/ref> , -- , align=center , 5 , , Poppenhusen , Poppenhusen QPL jeh

, 121-23 14th Ave. and
13-16 College Point Blvd. , Completed in 1904, it was the second Carnegie library completed in Queens. , -- , align=center , 6 , , Richmond Hill , Richmond Hill, QPL Carnegie Library

, 118-14 Hillside Ave. , , -- , align=center , 7 , , Woodhaven , Woodhaven library 20190208

, 85-41 Forest Pkwy. ,

Notes

References

* * * * * :''Note: The above references, while all authoritative, are not entirely mutually consistent. Some details of this list may have been drawn from one of the references without support from the others.''

External links

Historic Districts Council The Historic Districts Council (HDC) is a New York City-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves as the advocate for New York City's historic buildings, neighborhoods, and public spaces. HDC'YouTube channelprovides a large catalog of free ...

pages on Carnegie libraries in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. {{DEFAULTSORT:Carnegie libraries in New York City

New York City-related lists Babb, Cook and Willard buildings New York City education-related lists Carnegie libraries in New York City

Key