In 1911 another chapter in the history of Library service was opened, when Carnegie funds were obtained to build east and west end branches. As early as 1905 the Board had tried to secure such funds for relief at the Main Building, but were unsuccessful. When Mr. Carnegie offered instead to provide funds to build two branches, the Board accepted, realizing the growing need of branch service in Dayton. Sites were secured, plans drawn, contracts let and everything looked towards an early completion of the buildings. Then came the deluge of 1913. The toll exacted on the Dayton Public Library by the river-gods on that fateful morning in March was, by actual invoice, 50,000 books and a property and equipment damage of $25,000 making a total loss of $85.000. When the library wrote the Carnegie corporation that the building of the two branches would be delayed, they wrote back in sympathy of the situation and also sent a check for $15,000 to be used in the purchase of new books for the branches. This swelled Mr. Carnegies investment in Dayton libraries to $65,000. The branches were finally dedicated as West Carnegie Branch and East Carnegie Branch on February 25 and 27, 1914.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:48:33 +0000
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