Carnegie Library in Edmonds, WA, 2014

“Public Library, 1911.” Photo Curtesy of My Edmonds News.

“Edmonds Public Library, 1910.” Photo Curtesy of My Edmonds News.

“It is only the feeling that the library belongs to every citizen, richest and poorest alike, that gives it a soul.” — Andrew Carnegie, 1904

Between 1890 and 1919, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of more than 2,000 libraries across the English-speaking world. His vision reflected a growing belief that public education and access to information were essential investments in a nation’s future.

Viewed through both historical and local lenses, the Edmonds Carnegie Library captures this transformation — a small but powerful example of how communities began to see information as a shared resource rather than a privilege. These early libraries embody a shift still relevant today: the idea that access to knowledge is the foundation of collective growth.