Shooting the Maquoketa Carnegie Library

This is the Maquoketa Public Library and it is one of the surviving Carnegie Libraries in Iowa. It has the look Linda and I have come to recognize in many of the libraries built in the early twentieth century. This library still serves its community and appears to do it well. There were people coming and going as I approached to take the photo. I like to see that on going support and the long lasting legacy.

Shooting the Audubon Carnegie Library

The library in Audubon has an uncommonly prominent location in the community. It sits in the square in the middle of town while the courthouse is across the street. In most communities, we've seen the courthouse in the square and the library a block or so away. I like the setting for this library but it is a little different than most.

Shooting the Osceola Carnegie Library

The library in Osceola is a block or two south of the square and, like the courthouse, is set amongst mature trees. This library has an unusually tall entryway facade but, otherwise, looks pretty normal. As usual, the front door has postings for various events in the community it serves.

Shooting the Chariton Carnegie Library

Atop a small hill a block off the town square, this is the Carnegie library in Chariton. It was closed by the time we got there but it was clear by the care afforded the building that the community values their library. The notices on the front door showed me that they offer a variety of services to the community.

Shooting the Corydon Carnegie Library

This Carnegie library was gradually surrounded by the high school you can see in the background. Now, it houses the school offices. It looks like it may have been one of the smaller libraries. It's good to see that it's still serving the community.

Shooting the Leon Carnegie Library

This nice library has very little grass to mow; it's set about as tight to the intersection as you can get and practically all ground not taken up by the library is gravelled for parking... and they need it! Linda and I stepped inside about five minutes before closing and there were people upstairs and down. As is so often the case, this library is an excellent community resource.

Shooting the Mount Ayr Carnegie Library

This is a nice looking building still serving the community. We were too late to get to step inside this library but we can see the split foyer type design we've often seen in these libraries. Linda and I often like to check out the twin staircases down to the lower level; they're often nicely carved and the lower level is often quite attractive as well.

Shooting the Bedford Carnegie Library

Just down the hill and brick paved street from the Taylor County courthouse is the Bedford Carnegie library. Built a little closer to the courthouse than most, this library is an excellent compliment. There was clearly a good job in laying bricks back when this town was going up... and they did an excellent job. Fortunately, the community has been able to maintain the appearance even when modifying the entryway to be more accommodating for those hindered by the handsome stairway.

Shooting the Clarinda Carnegie Library

This is the Carnegie library building in Clarinda. The library has moved on but the building remains in service housing a nice collection of small businesses. An unusual feature of this building is the stained glass along both sides of the entry door. We've seen a little stained glass along the tops of windows but I don't recall large windows like these before Clarinda. We did get to step inside this building. A couple of ghost hunters were inside chatting with the salesperson about the history of the building, whether there was any history of unusual events, and then about their plans to spend the night at the somewhat famous haunted house up the road in Villisca; we didn't linger.

Shooting the Red Oak Carnegie Library

The library in Red Oak has a very different look than those we've seen around the state. One of the very distinctive aspects is the surface of the brick exterior. In the small image in the lower right corner, you can see that there are chunks of brick fused to the "normal" bricks that make up the wall; these chunks are scattered all over the wall. You can see something of the effect in the image in the upper right. Even the smooth faced bricks often have unusual colors and minor irregularities making for a very interesting appearance.

Shooting the Atlantic Carnegie Library

This is the Atlantic Public Library. Originally built with the aid of Andrew Carnegie, the library is still a vibrant participant in the community. Linda and I had a little trouble finding this one; we didn't have an address and we didn't know where the courthouse was yet so it took a little looking. Once we saw it, we were pretty sure what we were looking at; the carving above the door confirmed it.

Shooting the Greenfield Carnegie Library

This was the Greenfield library. Sponsored in part by a grant from Andrew Carnegie, this building was built to provide the public a free library. This structure is no longer serving as the community library; rather, it's the home of a local business. Fortunate for me, they value the structure and continue to perform needed maintenance to keep it in service for years to come.

Shooting the Winterset Carnegie Library

Linda and I both thought the general look and location of this building made it a possible Carnegie library but, when we read the "City Hall" carved above the door, we had our doubts. Fortunately, one of the plaques beside the door identified it as having been a carnegie library. It clearly continues to serve the community and remains a good looking building.

Shooting the Logan Carnegie Library

This is the uncommonly modern looking Carnegie library in Logan, Iowa. I'm sure that the windows and roof have been updated giving it a more modern look but it's still serving the community well. Located just to the north of the town square, it was an easy find.

Shooting the Spirit Lake Carnegie Library

Originally, this structure housed the library funded in part by Andrew Carnegie. The general appearance (and name in stone above the door) are pretty typical of many of the libraries built in Iowa in the early 1900s; the stairs up to the door that often opens onto a landing with one staircase up flanked by two staircases down. Just to the left of the entryway you can see the plague indicating that the structure is listed on the register of historic places assuring that attempts will be made to retain this appearance.

The community library has moved on to a new building. Currently, this building houses business offices.

Shooting the Estherville Carnegie Library

The library in Estherville is a handsome building on a block of its own, surrounded by a nice lawn, located just south of the county courthouse and in the midst of the business district. It's really the setting where you often find the courthouse in most county seats; that's a pretty nice honor. Most often, Linda and I find the courthouse and then look for the library on a side street a block or so away, out of the hustle and bustle, not taking up a prime commercial location. The people of Estherville put their library in the center of their community; an interesting statement of value in my opinion.

Sorry about the angle of the photo. Clearly after sunset, I had to set the camera down to keep it steady while the shutter was open. It made for a nice, warm image but, without a tripod, I didn't do a very good job of levelling the camera when taking the shot.

Shooting the Ames Carnegie Library

The Ames public library has grown beyond the structure made possible with the help of the Carnegie grant but the original building was still easily recognized. Situated on the corner, the library has extended down both streets. The patron entrance is now out of frame to the left and the employee entrance is down the street to the right. Inside, the transitions between the old and new were nearly indistinguishable. Most of the original building is now meeting rooms, offices, and a computer lab. It was nice to see the growth that came from that original investment in and by the community.

Shooting the Eldora Carnegie Library

This former library is located on the south side of the square in Eldora. The exterior design reminds me of some of the buildings in the Dutch heritage communities of Pella and Orange City. I can't find anything that would relate Eldora with Dutch settlement so it's probably just a coincidence.

Shooting the Iowa City Carnegie Library

At the east end of the pedestrian mall in Iowa City, Linda and I found Iowa City's Carnegie library building. Still in use, this handsome building still has its place in the community.

Shooting the Marengo Carnegie Library

Linda and I found the updated library in Marengo. Looking at the lines of the building, it looks like the main entrance likely used to be on the shaded, left end of this photo. To us, it looked like the building used to end just before the white stone entry to the right in this shot. That's about the size of most of the libraries we've been seeing. Also, as in many that we've seen, the community has done a nice job of extending the library with an addition. It's nice to see when these communities valued the original building enough to build on.