Celebrate good times, come on! That’s right folks the Library is going to host a party. To celebrate what, you might be thinking…well libraries of course. To be more specific, Carnegie Libraries in the state of Montana. The Montana History Foundation recently published a book that features the history of Carnegie Libraries in Montana. As the book’s synopsis shares, “Between 1901 and 1922, seventeen Montana communities built libraries with money given to them by the era’s richest man, Andrew Carnegie. Fifteen of those libraries stand today, and their story is told compellingly here by architectural historian Kate Hampton. Just as he did in “Hand Raised: The Barns of Montana”, photographer Tom Ferris provides stunning detail of both classic and unusual architectural elements of these iconic buildings. Hand-drawn architectural renderings and other historical images combine to create a detailed portrait of Carnegies rich legacy in Montana.” Be proud Fergus residents, your beautiful Library made the cover and is now representative of all Montana Carnegie libraries and that calls for a celebration. Therefore, we have called upon our power crew to help us arrange a perfect night at the Library. The Friends of the Lewistown Public Library are sponsoring the refreshments, the author Kate Hampton will offer informative histories, and a mini-exhibit displaying Montana Carnegie libraries, created by the Montana History Foundation, will be on display. A night of connection with and discussion about one of the most important civic institutions, the Library, is a must and a moment for all to enjoy.

What: “The Best Gift” book reception and presentation by architectural historian Kate Hampton

When: November 7, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Where: Library Meeting room (upstairs)

(Hampton, Kate. The Best Gift: Montana’s Carnegie Libraries. The Montana History Foundation, 2019).