Loveland Public Library Awarded $10,000 Grant from Carnegie Corporation
The Loveland Public Library has been selected to receive a $10,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of its Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, which honors the legacy of Carnegie libraries ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026.
The grant, expected to arrive in early 2026, will support expanded library programming, community outreach and special events reflecting the library's mission to inform, engage and inspire residents, according to a November 19 announcement from the City of Loveland.
The recognition connects directly to Loveland's library history. The Loveland Woman's Improvement Society partnered with the City of Loveland in 1905 to secure $10,000 in funding from Scottish American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build the city's first library. That partnership resulted in the original Carnegie library opening at 6th Street and Cleveland Avenue in 1908.
The original building served Loveland continuously for 60 years until 1968, when it was replaced by a modern facility on the same site, according to a library feasibility study. The current Loveland Public Library still occupies that expanded location at 300 North Adams Avenue.
National Initiative Supports Carnegie Libraries Ahead of 2026
Carnegie Corporation launched the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative in late 2025 to strengthen the civic role of Carnegie-funded libraries during the national commemoration of America's semiquincentennial. The program provides $10,000 grants to selected libraries drawn from the approximately 700 to 800 still-functioning Carnegie library buildings nationwide.
Andrew Carnegie funded construction of 1,681 free public libraries across the United States between 1886 and 1917, distributing more than $40 million to 1,412 communities. His grants required recipient cities to commit to ongoing library funding and public access, establishing a model for publicly supported library systems.
"Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as 'cradles of democracy' that 'strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man,'" said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation and former head of the University of Oxford. "We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded."
Colorado's Carnegie Legacy
Loveland's library is one of 17 Carnegie libraries constructed in Colorado between 1902 and 1914. Most of the state's original Carnegie buildings have been repurposed or replaced as library needs outgrew the historic structures.
Fort Collins' Carnegie library, built in 1904, now serves as the Fort Collins Museum. The building remains standing though altered, with its dome removed in 1932 and a Works Progress Administration remodel completed in the late 1930s.
Trinidad and Grand Junction maintain Carnegie buildings that still function as libraries. Greeley's 1904 Carnegie library now houses the Greeley History Museum, while Boulder's 1906 building serves as the Boulder History Museum and Archives.
Similar grant support for community institutions has appeared across Northern Colorado in recent months. Greeley Recreation secured a $20,000 grant from the Weld Community Foundation in November to support youth activities for low-income families. UCHealth distributed $270,000 to Northern Colorado nonprofits on November 13 for programs addressing food security and mental health.
The Loveland Public Library team is currently reviewing plans for allocating the Carnegie Corporation grant. Potential uses include expanded programming, community outreach and special events that reflect the library's mission.
"I am thrilled to receive this gift from the Carnegie Foundation. It reflects the Loveland Public Library's commitment to serving our community through the democratic values of public dialogue, literacy and learning, and access to information," said Amy Phillips, director of the Loveland Public Library.
The Loveland Public Library is open Monday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Additional information is available at lovlib.org or by calling 970-962-2665.