Perry Carnegie Library Building

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Perry Carnegie Library Building

| nrhp_type = indcp

| nocat = yes

| partof = Downtown Perry Historic District

| partof_refnum = 00001005

| image = Perry Carnegie Library Entrance.jpg

| caption = Entrance to the library

| location = 1123 Willis Ave.
Perry, Iowa

| coordinates = {{coord|41|50|18|N|94|6|18|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Iowa#USA

| built = 1908

| builder = Courtney and Bolt

| architect = Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen

| architecture = Classical Revival

| added = October 3, 1996

| area = less than one acre

| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64500180|title=Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR}}

| refnum = 96001061{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

The Perry Carnegie Library Building, also known as the Carnegie Library Museum, is a historic structure located in Perry, Iowa, United States. The Perry Library Association was established in 1894, and William Tarr served as its first librarian.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=96001061}}|title=Perry Carnegie Library Building|accessdate=2016-04-03|publisher=National Park Service|author=Michael W. Farley}} Andrew Carnegie accepted Perry's application for a grant for $10,600 on January 13, 1903.{{cite web|url=http://clip.grad.uiowa.edu/perry-public-library|title=Carnegie Libraries of Iowa Project-Perry Public Library|accessdate=2016-04-03|publisher=University of Iowa|author=}} The Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen designed the Neoclassical building that was built by local contractor Courtney and Bolt. It opened in September 1904 was dedicated on December 10.

The L-shaped building is designed to fit into its triangular lot. The inside of the "L" is filled in and features a rounded outer wall. The building served as a public library for close to 90 years when a new library was built across the street. It was then renovated for use as a library museum. Its collection includes many of the 1,000 original titles from the library, a special collection of Midwest literature, women's fiction, children's books, and books on literacy and libraries.{{cite web|url=http://www.perryia.org/carnegie-library.html|title=Carnegie Library|accessdate=2016-04-03|publisher=City of Perry, Iowa|author=}} The Carnegie Library Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It was included as a contributing building in the Downtown Perry Historic District in 2000.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=00001005}}|title=Downtown Perry Historic District|accessdate=2016-04-03|publisher=National Park Service|author=William C. Page}}