Re: Carnegie buildings with WEB labs -Reply

[Dan Lester <DLESTER@bsu.idbsu.edu>]

>>> Lois Dissly <ldissly@mtlib.org> 08/12/97 02:09pm >>>
Does anyone know if a Carnegie building has any restrictions
on the use
after it is abandoned as a public library?
------------
I'd doubt it for many reasons.  The Carnegie gifts were
supplemental to local funds, and I would be very surprised if
many cities or library boards would agree to restrictions, even
90 years ago.  

Many Carnegie's have been torn down, though the majority
still stand.  

Also, I've seen many Carnegies converted to other uses,
including restaurants and offices.  There are at least two
ex-Carnegies in Colorado that are now restarants and/or bars.
 The Boise Public Carnegie building is now an office building
occupied by lawyers.  It was offered first to the St. Michael's
Episcopal Cathedral, since it is adjacent to it, but the
Cathedral wasn't able to, or didn't choose to, spend the
money at that time.  With hindsight (and as a parishoner), I
wish it had been done.  Oh, well.

There are a couple of fine books on Carnegies (no authors
come to mind at moment, but a couple are fairly recent), and
they may well tell the precise conditions Carnegie prescribed,
whether they varied, etc.  If I were concerned about a
particular building, I'd start to hit the contemporary records
that may answer what if any questions there are about the
particular structure.  

dan


Dan Lester, Network Information Coordinator
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