INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Public Library has been recognized for its role in sustaining one of America’s most enduring democratic institutions, as the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The Library has received a commemorative gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of a nationwide initiative honoring the country’s 250th anniversary and celebrating the legacy of Carnegie libraries across the country.
Between 1886 and 1917, business mogul Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of over 2,500 libraries across the globe — 1,681 of which were in the United States. Indianapolis remains home to three branches with Carnegie origins. The East Washington and Spades Park branches continue to operate in their original Carnegie buildings, while the West Indianapolis branch was also established with Carnegie funding and remains an anchor in its community today.
“The Indianapolis Public Library has 26 public libraries across Indianapolis. Our libraries are the heart of every neighborhood,” said Gregory A. Hill, Sr., CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library. “For generations, our Carnegie branches have provided free access to information, lifelong learning and community connections. This gift reaffirms the transformative role libraries continue to play in strengthening civic life and expanding opportunities in the neighborhoods we serve. We are beyond thankful to the Carnegie Corporation for their support, and commitment to carrying out the legacy of Andrew Carnegie more than a century later.”
The gift may be used for a variety of purposes, including supporting programming, preservation efforts, or for purchase of materials at the Carnegie library branches for the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration throughout 2026.
In a letter accompanying the gift, Carnegie Corporation President Dame Louise Richardson, reflected on Carnegie’s belief that libraries are “cradles of democracy.”
“It has been truly inspiring to hear accounts from across America of how the 1,350-plus surviving Carnegie Libraries are serving their communities today,” Richardson wrote. “At a time of unprecedented strain to our social cohesion, libraries are among the few public institutions which play a genuinely unifying role.”
The Indianapolis Public Library was established in 1873, and grew from one room at Indianapolis High School. Today, Central Library and 23 branches serve the city, providing access to over 2 million books, resources, and more.
