Carnegie Corporation of New York Awards Library $500,000 Grant for Essential Programs and Services
Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders that allowed anyone, regardless of their background, to elevate themselves.
Dame Louise Richardson, Carnegie Corporation of New York president, says that belief continues to guide the foundation. “At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.”
Carnegie, an industrialist and philanthropist, established the organization in 1911. Since then, it has built more than 2,500 libraries around the world and continues to support libraries in a variety of ways.
On Tuesday, June 10, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced the Kansas City Public Library was one of just 11 library systems selected to receive up to $500,000 each from a pool of 1,407 applicants from across the country.
“Libraries are critical infrastructure in our communities — spaces that nurture learning, connection, and possibility,” says Abby Yellman, KCPL’s director and chief executive. “We are honored to receive this grant, which reaffirms the vital role libraries play in the ecosystem of community life.”
This round of funding — for a total of $5 million nationwide — is part of Carnegie’s national effort called Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy. According to the foundation, it builds on their “renewed commitment to libraries as trusted public institutions that help reduce political polarization.”
The Library will use the grant to expand three flagship programs, including two focused on teens: Teen Leaders of Today (TLOT), and the Kansas City Digital Media Lab (KCDML).
“There are numerous teens in Kansas City that are not sure what they want for their future, and the Library is a place for personal learning and discovery,” says Deputy Director of Youth & Family Engagement Crystal Faris.
“What better way to grow TLOT and the Digital Media Lab than to assist those teens in figuring out what they want for their future, using the Library as a safe space to explore possibilities — be that college or career.”
The Carnegie grant will also allow the Library to create new multilingual courses for the Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE) program to support certifications in high-demand fields.
For 11 years, RISE has connected immigrant populations with lifelong learning opportunities, including English language classes, and now serves more than 3,000 patrons each year.
“For so many in our community, the Kansas City Public Library is the place they feel truly welcomed and supported,” says Director of Outreach and Community Engagement Mary Olive Joyce.
“Through our RISE program, we help immigrants and English language learners build confidence, navigate unfamiliar systems, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.”
The Library also plans to add more programming for teens in STEAM skill-building, leadership training, financial literacy, and career and college exploration.
Joyce adds, “This grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York is a powerful affirmation that education, access, and dignity should be available to all. We’re honored to carry that mission forward.”