Newberg's Carnegie Library

The gift of Andrew Carnegie. . . to the community of Newberg, a beautiful library that has served generations of Newberg residents for over 100 years.

Newberg's Carnegie Library was opened on March 29, 1912 and its centennial was celebrated in 2012.

Born in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie emigrated to America and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his parents at 13. He started working in a bobbin factory shortly thereafter and through his efforts, intelligence and a little bit of good luck, rose through the telegraph, railroad and finally the steel industry to become the richest man in the world at the turn of the last century.

Carnegie formulated this philosophy which guided his life and philanthropy: The Man Who Dies Rich, Dies Disgraced. 

Carnegie granted funds to build 2,509 libraries throughout the world;1,689 were built in the United States, 32 in Oregon and one in Newberg.

Carnegie Libraries from Wikipedia
History of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries

Visit Other Carnegie Libraries in Oregon

Carnegie Library Centennial 1912-2012
Visit other Carnegie libraries in Oregon

Use the Carnegie Passport from our 2012 celebration to discover Oregon's Carnegie heritage. The contest may be over, but the libraries are still there to visit!

Andrew Carnegie donated funds to build over 2,500 libraries around the world at the turn of the last century.  At the time he was considered the second richest man in the world, and he valued libraries and what they could do for the individual.   

Thirty-two communities in Oregon built Carnegie Libraries from 1906 through 1919 and today eleven are still used as libraries, including your library in Newberg.  Others have been razed or are used for other purposes.  

Carnegie Passport: A Visiting Guide to Historic Libraries 
Wikipedia List of Carnegie Libraries in Oregon
Andrew Carnegie Libraries