The Carnegie Library in Illinois

by Raymond Bial, Linda LaPuma Bial

This book offers a nostalgic, yet informative, visit to the eighty-three Carnegie libraries in Illinois that still serve as libraries and, in most cases, as community cultural centers.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

Author and photographer Raymond Bial (1948-2021) has been creating acclaimed books for children and adults for more than thirty years. His books have been published by Houghton Mifflin, Scholastic, Walker & Company, Marshall Cavendish, Crickhollow Books, and other fine publishers and university presses. Raymond also makes images on assignment, and his stock photographs have been used by book publishers such as National Geographic, advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, and media such as PBS.

Raymond’s most recent books are Ellis Island: Coming to the Land of Liberty, which is an excellent companion volume to Tenement: Immigrant Life on the Lower East Side; The Shaker Village, a lovely collection of color photographs depicting the simplicity and grace of this remarkable utopian community; a lovely paperback edition of Where Lincoln Walked published in honor of the bicentennial of the birth of this great president; Dripping Blood Cave and Other Ghostly Stories, the third volume in a popular series of ghost stories for young readers; and Rescuing Rover: Saving America’s Dogs, which has been selected for the Junior Literary Guild Book Club. Rescuing Rover is currently receiving high praise across the country.

Chigger, his most recent novel, is receiving fine reviews from readers, young and old alike. Anyone who likes to root for the underdog will love this sweet story of an unforgettable girl.

Reviews

[Ginger Newingham]

Loved to see how communities came together and organized themselves for the betterment of the public. The excerpts from the correspondence was fascinating - for example, “We’ve no new saloons in our town for over a decade.” Carnegie, and his secretary James Bertram were saints for voluntarily inserting themselves into city politics and arguments for the sake of free and public resources!