Read all about it... library's 120th birthday

GIFT OF WORLD'S RICHEST MAN CREATED A VITAL COMMUNITY SPACE THAT IS THRIVING AGAIN AFTER YEARS AT RISK

- By JESS MOLYNEUX ECHO Reporter

A HISTORIC building that was once left derelict is celebrating a remarkable milestone.

In 1905, the The Carnegie Library, on Lister Drive & Green Lane in Tuebrook, first opened its doors to the public.

Designed by architect Thomas Shelmerdine, the library was funded by wealthy philanthropist Andrew Carnegie - who was so impressed with the “public spirit of Liverpool” that he donated £13,000 towards its construction. Also known as the Old Library, the landmark and community space has been loved by successive generations.

However, the site fell into disrepair and campaigners thought they would lose the Carnegie library forever.

But in 2020, over a decade after its closure, the building reopened after being painstakingly restored.

It was community-based charity Lister Steps who helped to turn the disused Grade II-listed library into a thriving community centre, with help from social investment.

Jerry Spencer, Lister Steps’ trustee, honorary treasurer and volunteer, said: “When Andrew Carnegie got to retirement age, he'd just got married, he sold his business to JP Morgan, who was another very famous American businessman, and became the richest man in the world.

“He had his personal share of the business of $4.5 billion, and then he spent the rest of his life giving away $4.4 billion of that, building or helping to fund the building of two-and-a-half thousand libraries all around the world and endowing colleges and educational institutions. We had six in Liverpool, all designed by the same architect, Thomas Shelmerdine.

“It cost £13,000, which is I think £2.5m today. It was operating as a library until 2006, when the building became so dilapidated and unsafe that it was forced to close.”

Jerry, 69, said life inside the library in the past was quite different for visitors.