Carnegie Library Center
Encyclopedia
The Carnegie Library Center is the cultural and educational center
of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
in Atlantic City, New Jersey
located at Pacific Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard one block west of the Boardwalk.
building, one New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, was made possible with a grant of $71,075 made January 22, 1903 by Andrew Carnegie
through the Carnegie Corporation
, Work on a $50,000 contract begin in September 1903 and was completed in 1904.
It is the work of architect Albert Randolph Ross
who also designed the library that is now houses the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the Orange Public Library With the words "Open to All" engraved above it's main entrance, the building was dedicated on January 2, 1905. Carnegie wrote “I trust the Library will fulfill its mission in the highest degree, becoming the center of light to all people.” Ross, who as young architect particpated in the design of Boston Public Library
, using a symmetrical classical classical style design include central stacks open to the public, natural light in public areas, separate public spaces with specialized materials (rather then one large reading room). The building had art gallery, museum, and meeting rooms to promote education through different media as well as books.
While the building saw some improvements and minor renovations, the exterior remained intact and the interior was only slighty altered. The three-story, 9,000 square foot structure features amarble, granite, terra cotta
exterior, terrazzo
floors, Scagliola-finished columns, and marble and iron staircases. It was used by the Atlantic City Public Library until 1985, which relocated larger building at Tennessee and Atlantic Avenues. The groundbreaking for the new main library took place on January 28, 1982 and it was dedicated on July 31, 1985. The Carnegie Library, in limbo, was used by miscellaneous municpal offices until finally abandoned in 1994. The building stood vacant for nearly seven years.
(CRDA), the City of Atlantic City, and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
enabled the preservation and renovation of the historic building. Starting in 2001, the building underwent more than $5 million dollars in renovations.While the main campus of the college is located in nearby Pomona
, the school maintains a presence in Atlantic City where it had its beginnings at the Mayflower Hotel, and the center is Stockton’s gateway to Atlantic City and is representative of the college's commitment to civic engagement. The nearby Dante Hall Theater of the Arts in Ducktown
is also affliliated with the university.
As well as offering undergraduate and graduate courses and continuing education and professional development programs the center provides space as meeting and conference center and for community outreach. It also houses the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties, and the Management Development and Professional Services office. There is 75-seat lecture hall, multi-purpose room seating forty,, state-of-the-art computer laboratory, a 15-seat executive conference room, and three seminar rooms. each with 25 person capacity. It is equipped the modern communications technology, including wall-mounted displays, high-speed wireless Internet access, document cameras and VCR’s.
The Civil Rights Garden, a tribute to Civil Rights Movement
, is adjacent to the Carnegie, which supports accompanying lectures, receptions, and other events that take place there.
Cultural center
A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run...
of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, an hour from Philadelphia and 20 minutes from Atlantic City, is an undergraduate and graduate college of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey system of higher education. The College was...
in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
located at Pacific Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard one block west of the Boardwalk.
Architecture and history
The Atlantic City Free Public Library was founded in 1903 with overwhelming support of the community who voted (6062 for to 30 against) to create it. The construction of the public libraryPublic library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
building, one New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, was made possible with a grant of $71,075 made January 22, 1903 by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
through the Carnegie Corporation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, Work on a $50,000 contract begin in September 1903 and was completed in 1904.
It is the work of architect Albert Randolph Ross
Albert Randolph Ross
Albert Randolph Ross was an American architect. Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, he was a son of architect John W. Ross....
who also designed the library that is now houses the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the Orange Public Library With the words "Open to All" engraved above it's main entrance, the building was dedicated on January 2, 1905. Carnegie wrote “I trust the Library will fulfill its mission in the highest degree, becoming the center of light to all people.” Ross, who as young architect particpated in the design of Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
, using a symmetrical classical classical style design include central stacks open to the public, natural light in public areas, separate public spaces with specialized materials (rather then one large reading room). The building had art gallery, museum, and meeting rooms to promote education through different media as well as books.
While the building saw some improvements and minor renovations, the exterior remained intact and the interior was only slighty altered. The three-story, 9,000 square foot structure features amarble, granite, terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
exterior, terrazzo
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both...
floors, Scagliola-finished columns, and marble and iron staircases. It was used by the Atlantic City Public Library until 1985, which relocated larger building at Tennessee and Atlantic Avenues. The groundbreaking for the new main library took place on January 28, 1982 and it was dedicated on July 31, 1985. The Carnegie Library, in limbo, was used by miscellaneous municpal offices until finally abandoned in 1994. The building stood vacant for nearly seven years.
Re-opening as library center
The collaborative efforts of the Casino Reinvestment Development AuthorityCasino Reinvestment Development Authority
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or CRDA is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1984 and is responsible for directing the spending of casino reinvestment funds in public and private projects to benefit Atlantic City and other areas of the state...
(CRDA), the City of Atlantic City, and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, an hour from Philadelphia and 20 minutes from Atlantic City, is an undergraduate and graduate college of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey system of higher education. The College was...
enabled the preservation and renovation of the historic building. Starting in 2001, the building underwent more than $5 million dollars in renovations.While the main campus of the college is located in nearby Pomona
Pomona, New Jersey
Pomona is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Galloway Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. At the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,019...
, the school maintains a presence in Atlantic City where it had its beginnings at the Mayflower Hotel, and the center is Stockton’s gateway to Atlantic City and is representative of the college's commitment to civic engagement. The nearby Dante Hall Theater of the Arts in Ducktown
Ducktown, Atlantic City
Ducktown is a historically Italian American district of Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, stretching from Missouri Avenue to Texas Avenue...
is also affliliated with the university.
As well as offering undergraduate and graduate courses and continuing education and professional development programs the center provides space as meeting and conference center and for community outreach. It also houses the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties, and the Management Development and Professional Services office. There is 75-seat lecture hall, multi-purpose room seating forty,, state-of-the-art computer laboratory, a 15-seat executive conference room, and three seminar rooms. each with 25 person capacity. It is equipped the modern communications technology, including wall-mounted displays, high-speed wireless Internet access, document cameras and VCR’s.
The Civil Rights Garden, a tribute to Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, is adjacent to the Carnegie, which supports accompanying lectures, receptions, and other events that take place there.
See also
- List of Carnegie libraries in New Jersey
- Cooper Library in Johnson ParkCooper Library in Johnson ParkCooper Library in Johnson Park, is located in Camden, New Jersey. The building was built in 1916 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 1980.-See also:*Carnegie Library Center...
- Atlantic City ArmoryAtlantic City ArmoryAtlantic City Armory is an armory at 1008 Absecon Boulevard in Atlantic City, New Jersey.For the 1944 season the New York Yankees held spring training in Atlantic City. They made the 300-room Senator Hotel their headquarters, trained indoors at the armory and played at Bader Field.In 2009 it was...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Atlantic County, New Jersey
- List of tallest buildings in Atlantic City