Winnipeg’s Carnegie Library celebrates 100th birthday

18 October 2005

The Carnegie Public Library was officially opened on October 11th, 1905 by Governor General Earl Grey. The first public library building in Winnipeg, constructed with a grant of $75,000 from American industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, it functioned as Winnipeg’s central library until the completion of the Centennial Library in 1977. Following completion of the Centennial Library, the Carnegie Library was closed. However, community appeals resulted in the reopening of the building as the William Avenue Branch Library in 1978. The William Avenue Branch was closed in 1994. From 1977 to 2005, space for library services and programs was gradually reduced and reallocated to storage of the City’s archival records which number approximately 7,000 metres of records of the City and amalgamated municipalities dating back to 1874.

Historical Background Notes

Carnegie Library Architectural Features

Anecdotes

Opening of the Library Manitoba Free Press Wednesday, October 11, 1905:

This afternoon at 2:30 the ceremony of opening the new Carnegie library will be started. The Vice-Regal party will be attended by a guard of honor composed of a company of school cadets from Norquay, Alexander and Somerset schools. Countess Grey will unlock the great front doors with a key which will be presented to her by Alderman Sandison. The party will then enter and the Governor-General will be asked to open the building formally. As soon as the institution is declared open, His Excellency will be presented with the first Carnegie library ticket, and he will take out a book in the usual way.

MHS News Archive