Dunfermline Carnegie Library
{{Short description|Library in Dunfermline, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Dunfermline Carnegie Library
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| image = File:Carnegie Library, Dunfermline.jpg
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| caption = Dunfermline Carnegie Library
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| building_type = Public library
| architectural_style = Domestic Tudor
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| location = Dunfermline, Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|56.0704|-3.4620|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| start_date = 1881
| completion_date = 29 August 1883
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| architect = James Campbell Walker
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| website = https://www.onfife.com/venues/dunfermline-carnegie-library
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The Dunfermline Carnegie Library opened in Dunfermline, Scotland, on 29 August 1883 and was the world's first Carnegie Library funded by the Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It was designed by Edinburgh architect James Campbell Walker who also designed the nearby Dunfermline City Chambers. Andrew Carnegie donated £8000 to building and stocking what would be the first of over 2,500 Carnegie Libraries.{{cite web|title=Dunfermline, Abbot Street, Carnegie Central Library|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/97117/dunfermline-abbot-street-carnegie-central-library|website=Canmore|accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016112941/https://canmore.org.uk/site/97117/dunfermline-abbot-street-carnegie-central-library |url-status=live}}{{cite web|title= Dunfermline Municipal Buildings|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=213338|website=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814223931/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=213338 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Dunfermline Carnegie Library - yesterday and today|url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/yourtown/index.cfm?fuseaction=history.display&town=3DD670C0-0491-40B6-A9FE7A0FC7A3FCFC&objectid=4B76753D-3D22-4D0D-B92357B431732B5C|website=Fifedirect|accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914184334/http://www.fife.gov.uk/yourtown/index.cfm?fuseaction=history.display&town=3DD670C0-0491-40B6-A9FE7A0FC7A3FCFC&objectid=4B76753D-3D22-4D0D-B92357B431732B5C |url-status=dead}} The library was made a Category B listed building in 1971.{{cite web|url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB25979|title=ABBOT STREET, CENTRAL LIBRARY LB25979|website=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202121030/http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB25979 |url-status=live}}
History
In 1879, Andrew Carnegie put plans in place to fund a new library for his birthplace, Dunfermline, Scotland. Building plans were prepared by James Campbell Walker in 1880, and on 27 July 1881 the foundation stone was laid by Carnegie's mother, Margaret Carnegie.{{cite web|title=Dunfermline Carnegie Library|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=213346|website=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128201331/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=213346 |url-status=live}}{{cite book|last1=Nasaw|first1=David|title=Andrew Carnegie|url=https://archive.org/details/andrewcarnegie00nasa|url-access=registration|date=2006|publisher=Penguin Press|location=New York, NY [u.a.]|isbn=1-59420-104-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/andrewcarnegie00nasa/page/204 204]}}
The opening of the library in 1883 was regarded as the most significant local event of the year and a public holiday was declared. The facilities included a library room, ladies' and gentlemen's reading rooms, a recreation room, a smoking room, and a flat for the librarian. The first librarian was Alexander Peebles, an Edinburgh bookbinder who was selected for the role from 250 applicants. The library proved to be a success however it was soon found to be too small, and the layout was unsuitable.{{cite web|title=Architecture Notes|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/97117/dunfermline-abbot-street-carnegie-central-library|website=Canmore|accessdate=2 September 2016 |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016112941/https://canmore.org.uk/site/97117/dunfermline-abbot-street-carnegie-central-library |url-status=live}} To address these problems the newly formed Carnegie Dunfermline Trust took joint control of the library with the town council, and in 1904 began an extension, designed by James Shearer, which would more than doubled the size of the original building. As a result of the First World War the extension was not completed until 1922. After the extension was completed, full control of the library returned to the town council, with the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust contributing £400 a year to the library until 1958.{{cite web|title=Early Carnegie Libraries|url=http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/early.htm|website=Scotcities|accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730044456/http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/early.htm |url-status=dead}}
Another extension was added to the south of the building and was opened on 2 March 1993 which provided the library with new meeting and exhibition rooms, children and music libraries and a local history room.{{cite book|last1=Stephens|first1=Annabel, K.|title=Public Library Collection Development in the Information Age|date=1998|publisher=The Haworth Press, Inc.|location=New York & London|page=82}}
In November 2017, the library was awarded the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.{{cite web|title=Library is Scotland's 'best building'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-41900443|website=BBC News|accessdate=9 November 2017|date=7 November 2017 |archive-date=25 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825161123/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-41900443 |url-status=live}}
Archaeology
An archaeology dig called Dig Dunfermline took place over six weeks in August and September 2013 on the site of what is now Dunfermline's new museum and art gallery which connects to the library. There were several finds including a tile from a smokeless stove possibly from the 16th century, the foundations of a medieval building and leather fragments.{{cite web|title=Dig sheds light on Dunfermline's medieval past|url=http://m.dunfermlinepress.com/news/13515802.Dig_sheds_light_on_Dunfermline_s_medieval_past/|website=Dunfermline Press|date=27 November 2013 |accessdate=3 September 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213221854/https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/13515802.dig-sheds-light-on-dunfermlines-medieval-past/ |url-status=live}}
Museum and art gallery
In spring 2014, the Dunfermline Carnegie Library was closed as part of the museum and art gallery project. The project was planned to take place over two years and cost £10.8 million with the library reopening in summer 2016. This was extended to spring 2017 and the cost rose to £12.4 million. It was designed by Scottish architect Richard Murphy and includes a museum spanning over two floors, a local studies centre, three exhibition galleries, a children's library and a cafe.{{cite web|title=Dunfermline's library to close for two years|url=http://m.dunfermlinepress.com/news/13515806.Dunfermline_s_library_to_close_for_two_years/|website=Dunfermline Press|date=29 November 2013 |accessdate=4 September 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213222205/https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/13515806.dunfermlines-library-to-close-for-two-years/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Project team delivering the museum Dunfermline deserves|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/211424/project-team-delivering-museum-dunfermline-deserves/|website=The Courier|date=22 June 2016 |accessdate=4 September 2016 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003071544/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/211424/project-team-delivering-museum-dunfermline-deserves/ |url-status=live}} The museum and art gallery opened on 18 May 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/15126614.Opening_date_set_for_new___12million_Carnegie_Library_and_Galleries/?ref=mrb&lp=17|title=Opening date set for new £12 million Carnegie Library and Galleries|website=dunfermlinepress.com|date=March 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2017 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213222551/https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/15126614.opening-date-set-for-new-12million-carnegie-library-and-galleries/ |url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Libraries in Scotland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunfermline Carnegie Library}}
Category:Carnegie libraries in Scotland
Category:Library buildings completed in 1883
Category:Public libraries in Scotland
Category:Category B listed buildings in Fife
Category:Listed library buildings in Scotland
Category:1883 establishments in Scotland
Category:Museums established in 2017
Category:Libraries established in 1883