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Free to the People
Photographer: Darla Cravotta
Date: December 5, 2003
Place: Forbes Avenue, Oakland, Pittsburgh
Why this photo?
[note: "Free to the People" is etched in stone and greets people as they enter Oakland's Carnegie Library -- a great subversive statement courtesy of one of the world's richest men. Andrew Carnegie understood the gift economy back in the '90s, the 1890s, that is. Yes, the library costs someone money, and due to cuts in state funding the library can "free" itself a little less often, but the idea that this treasure house is open to all just knocks my socks off. If you feel the same way, make sure you let the Governor and your legislators know.]
Latitude: 40.4442
Longitude: -079.9492
Posted by Mark at February 2, 2004 12:03 AM
Comments
I've never verified this, but a wise old person once told me that Andrew Carnegie's gift of libraries "free to the people" was less than stellar. Apparently he built the buildings to etch his name as a philanthropist on the local landscape, but stopped short of stocking the libraries with books or providing an endowment to operate them!
Posted by: Noise at June 29, 2006 12:55 AM