Carnegie memorabilia at T.B. Scott Free Library

Postcards, ceramics, photos and other souvenir items from libraries throughout Wisconsin benefiting from industrialist Andrew Carnegie are featured in the current Community ArtShare display at T.B. Scott Free Library.

The exhibit, which culminates the year-long centennial celebration of the library's Carnegie building, can be seen through the end of December on the library's second and third floors.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center. The Center promotes an understanding and appreciation for the history of libraries in Wisconsin.

In 1909, the city of Merrill received a grant for $17,500 from the library benefactor through his Andrew Carnegie Foundation. On Aug. 21, 1911, T.B. Scott Free Library opened to the public in the new Carnegie building.

Besides Merrill, 59 Wisconsin communities received 63 Carnegie Library Grants early in the 20th century. Wisconsin communities received a total of $1,045,511 in grants to build public libraries.

T.B. Scott Library's "Beyond Books: Community ArtShare" series features a new exhibit every two months on an ongoing basis. The series was originally made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Mead Witter Foundation, Inc. of Wisconsin Rapids.