Marion, Iowa has one of the newest libraries in Iowa. It used to have a library in a building that was known as a Carnegie Library. Many libraries were built in the state of Iowa during the turn of the century. The territory of Iowa even had a Territorial Library before Iowa became a state. Many libraries were built due to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, a native of Scotland, who had made a lot of money in the steel mills. He gave money to help build over 2,500 libraries all over the United States and Canada.

Andrew Carnegie grew up in Scotland where he wanted very much to be able to have books to read. The only person in town who had a library was a very rich man would not open his library to others. Later when Carnegie came to the United States he still longed for books to read.

He became a runner for the railroad. A rich man in Philadelphia opened his library to the young men who were runners for the railroad. Carnegie never forgot that and when he became a rich man he used his money to open libraries so that everyone, regardless of how much money they had, could use a library.

When he began to give money for libraries, the first one he gave money to build was one in his hometown in Scotland. After that he helped to build many others. He gave money to build a Carnegie Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and in Marion, Iowa. Cedar Rapids built a new library in the 1980s. In 1996, Marion is building a new library.

During an interview with Nancy Miller, we found out a lot about how the Carnegie Libraries were built, and she told us a lot about how the new library was being designed and built. We even got to see the architect's drawing of the new building. She brought the drawing to our school and told us about the new building and all the plans for helping people have access to books and a place to read and enjoy them.

The people of Marion raised money to start building a new library. Many people have given money to help build the library. Nancy A. Miller gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to build the library and it will be named in her honor. The Hall Foundation, Cox Cable Company, Firstar Bank, and Rockwell have all given corporate contributions to the building fund but many individuals have given money too.

Fifty-three per cent of the cost of the new library is being funded by private or corporate donations. Tax dollars are paying for the rest of the cost. The new library will be 24,000 square feet and all on one floor. They will have a new automated catalog showing what materials they have. People who check on the computers at the Cedar Rapids Public Library will be able to see what books Marion has. Those people who check on Marion's computers will be able to see what Cedar Rapid's has, as well.

A lot of planning went into the design and the building of the new library. The architects held a lot of town meetings so that citizens could say what they wanted their library to be like. Citizens even got to sit in chairs and decide which ones they wanted the building committee to purchase for the new library. The library opened during the summer of 1996.

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