Dunfermline Carnegie Library facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dunfermline Carnegie Library
Dunfermline Carnegie Library
General information
Type	Public library
Architectural style	Domestic Tudor
Location	Dunfermline, Scotland
Coordinates	56°04′13″N 3°27′43″W / 56.0704°N 3.4620°W / 56.0704; -3.4620
Construction started	1881
Completed	29 August 1883
Design and construction
Architect	James Campbell Walker

The Dunfermline Carnegie Library is a special building in Dunfermline, Scotland. It opened on August 29, 1883. This library was the very first one in the world to be paid for by Andrew Carnegie. He was a rich Scottish-American businessman who loved to help people. He gave money to build many libraries. The library was designed by James Campbell Walker, an architect from Edinburgh. Carnegie gave £8,000 to build and fill this library. It was the first of over 2,500 libraries he helped create around the world. This building is now a protected historical site. It became a Category B listed building in 1971.

A Library for Dunfermline

In 1879, Andrew Carnegie decided to fund a new library. He wanted it for his hometown, Dunfermline. James Campbell Walker drew up the building plans in 1880. On July 27, 1881, Carnegie's mother, Margaret Carnegie, laid the first stone.

The library opened in 1883. This was seen as the most important local event of that year. A public holiday was even declared for it! The library had many useful rooms. There was a main library room. It also had separate reading rooms for ladies and gentlemen. There was a recreation room and a smoking room. The librarian, Alexander Peebles, even had a flat there. He was chosen from 250 people who wanted the job.

Growing Pains and Extensions

The library was very popular. However, it soon became too small. Its layout also wasn't ideal. To fix these issues, the new Carnegie Dunfermline Trust took over the library with the town council. In 1904, they started building an extension. This new part was designed by James Shearer. It would more than double the size of the original building.

The extension took a long time to finish. This was because of the First World War. It was finally completed in 1922. After the extension, the town council took full control again. The Dunfermline Carnegie Trust still helped. They gave £400 a year to the library until 1958.

Another extension was added later. It opened on March 2, 1993. This part added new meeting and exhibition rooms. It also created special areas for children's books and music. There was even a room for local history. In November 2017, the library won a special award. It received the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.

Digging Up the Past

In 2013, an archaeology dig took place. It was called Dig Dunfermline. This dig lasted six weeks. It happened where the new museum and art gallery now stand. This new building connects to the library.

What They Found

During the dig, archaeologists found several interesting items.

• They found a tile from a smokeless stove. This tile might be from the 1500s.
• They also found the old foundations of a medieval building.
• Some leather fragments were discovered too.

New Museum and Art Gallery

In spring 2014, the Dunfermline Carnegie Library closed. This was part of a big project. The project was to build a new museum and art gallery. It was planned to take two years. The cost was first estimated at £10.8 million. The library was supposed to reopen in summer 2016.

However, the project took longer. It was extended to spring 2017. The cost also went up to £12.4 million. The new building was designed by Scottish architect Richard Murphy.

What's Inside

The new museum and art gallery has many features:

• A museum that covers two floors.
• A special center for local studies.
• Three galleries for exhibitions.
• A children's library.
• A cafe.

The museum and art gallery officially opened on May 18, 2017.

See also

• Andrew Carnegie
• Carnegie Library
• Dunfermline
• List of Carnegie libraries in Europe
• List of listed buildings in Dunfermline, Fife