In January, Poudre Libraries will receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie. The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the roughly 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States.
Andrew Carnegie believed that a free public library was the best possible gift for a community and that “the taste for reading is one of the most precious possessions of life.” Poudre Libraries is honored to use the funds to further Carnegie’s vision and benefit our community through essential spaces, services, and collections.
In 1903, a Carnegie gift of $12,500 funded the construction of the Fort Collins Library, located at 200 Mathews Street, the current home of the Center for Creativity. The Fort Collins Library opened to the public on July 1, 1904. There were 2,770 books on hand to read. The first librarian was Elfreda Stebbins who worked in the Carnegie library building until 1931.
By 1970, the Fort Collins population more than doubled to 60,000 and there was an increasing demand for library services. In 1976, a new Fort Collins Library opened with 33,500 square feet in its new location at 201 Peterson Street, the current home of Old Town Library, just east of the Carnegie Building. The new library could accommodate 109,000 books.
Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. Approximately 750 of them continue to use their original buildings, while others—like Poudre Libraries’ Old Town Library—have moved to new locations. Our library is one of more than 3 dozen Carnegie Libraries in Colorado built through this historic program.
To learn more about the history of public libraries in Fort Collins, visit the Fort Collins History Connection, an online collaboration between the Library District and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Carnegie 250 and Old Town Library 50
In 2026, Poudre Libraries will join in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood as we also celebrate our own milestone—the 50th anniversary of Old Town Library (Main Library).
The District is planning a variety of free programs and activities, historical exhibits, and book displays to highlight local library service alongside Colorado and American history. Activities will take place throughout the year leading to a community celebration of Old Town Library in October. Dates are to be announced.
To stay informed about new opportunities and ways to participate, sign up for the Library’s program eNewsletter.
In 1903, a Carnegie gift of $12,500 funded the construction of the Fort Collins Library, located at 200 Mathews Street, the current home of the Center for Creativity. The Fort Collins Library opened to the public on July 1, 1904. There were 2,770 books on hand to read. The first librarian was Elfreda Stebbins who worked in the Carnegie library building until 1931.
By 1970, the Fort Collins population more than doubled to 60,000 and there was an increasing demand for library services. In 1976, a new Fort Collins Library opened with 33,500 square feet in its new location at 201 Peterson Street, the current home of Old Town Library, just east of the Carnegie Building. The new library could accommodate 109,000 books.
Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. Approximately 750 of them continue to use their original buildings, while others—like Poudre Libraries’ Old Town Library—have moved to new locations. Our library is one of more than 3 dozen Carnegie Libraries in Colorado built through this historic program.
To learn more about the history of public libraries in Fort Collins, visit the Fort Collins History Connection, an online collaboration between the Library District and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Carnegie 250 and Old Town Library 50
In 2026, Poudre Libraries will join in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood as we also celebrate our own milestone—the 50th anniversary of Old Town Library (Main Library).
The District is planning a variety of free programs and activities, historical exhibits, and book displays to highlight local library service alongside Colorado and American history. Activities will take place throughout the year leading to a community celebration of Old Town Library in October. Dates are to be announced.
To stay informed about new opportunities and ways to participate, sign up for the Library’s program eNewsletter.
