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  Table of Contents about Andrew Carnegie About Allen Gardiner, author of The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas Further information about Libraries featured in this book Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  

OLATHE

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The Olathe Library Association began operating a subscription library in the 1870s and this was probably the earliest library movement in the city. The Ladies Reading Circle, the first of the Olathe Federated Women's Clubs, began efforts to establish a public library in 1889. In 1899, the library committee of the Olathe Improvement Society gave an entertainment at the Hays Opera House "to give a good start toward equipping a good public library."
 
Carnegie Library: Olathe, Kansas

 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
In 1909, the Olathe City Commission appointed a twelve-member library board and requested it, along with the mayor, to organize for the purpose of establishing a city public library. The board petitioned for a .25 mill levy and this was achieved, and thus the municipality assumed support of the library without an election.
 
Andrew Carnegie was written to, and on December 24, 1909, he offered $10,000.00 for a building. A site was chosen at 124 Chestnut Street. The building was built from a design by Professor Walters of Manhattan. The contract was given to Weast and Ekengren for $7,869.00.
 
The library was dedicated February 5, 1914, at which time the board presented the new building and 4,500 books to the City of Olathe. Former Kansas Governor John P. St. John gave an address.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING
 
The building was rectangular, one story above a raised basement. The exterior was of red brick with stone trim. A pattern of three windows on either side of the front entrance was carried out. The front entrance was covered by a porch distinguished by a Romanesque arch; above the arch was a tablet bearing the words "Carnegie Library."
 
LATER LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The library had nearly outgrown its quarters by 1964. On August 4 of that year voters were asked to support a 2.00 mill levy for library expansion, but the measure failed. A similar referendum--a 2.00 mill levy for library improvements--at the April 6, 1965, election was passed. The levy was for a period of five years. By the time the fund had accumulated to $122,000.00, federal matching funds were no longer available. The library board purchased the Patrons State Bank building on South Cherry as a suitable building for the library, and the old Carnegie building was sold to the Urban Renewal Agency. The building was razed shortly thereafter. The funds from the levy, along with a generous anonymous gift and interest accrued on the building fund enabled the board to provide a building and furnishings free of debt.