Re-Imagine the Carnegie
AlmostFreeToAll, Inc. (AFTA) is a non-profit corporation that was created to celebrate art, culture, education, and community events at “Branches at the Carnegie” located at 175 Almond St.
The City of Auburn and the Auburn Arts Commission (AAC) would like to thank the Arts Council of Placer County (ACPC) and the Old Library Art Studio (OLAS) artists for their contribution to the Auburn arts scene in the historic Carnegie Library building from 2000-2018. With ACPC electing not to continue their lease of the building from the city and management of their OLAS program, the city has an opportunity and a responsibility to perform maintenance, repairs and safety upgrades on the building, which will remain closed to the public until this work is completed.
History of the Auburn Carnegie Library
The Auburn City Library, organized in 1906, was opened to the public on December 27 of that year. Application was made to the Andrew Carnegie Corporation in 1907 for funds to construct a library building, and a $10,000 grant was approved the same year.
Property owned by W.B. Lardner at 175 Almond Street was chosen as the site, and construction began in April 1908. The library was dedicated on May 26, 1909. The building served as a library until 1968 when the City and County Library systems were combined and a new library opened at 350 Nevada St.
The Almond Street building was vacated at that time, and lay dormant until 1983 when the Arts Council of Placer County, formerly known as Artcetera, occupied it and developed the Auburn Arts Center. There, many exhibitions and programs in visual and performing arts were enjoyed by the public until 1997, when the Arts Council of Placer County, now known as PlacerArts, relocated its office to downtown Auburn.
Through a grant from the Placer Community Foundation, matched by the City of Auburn, renovation of the historic building began in 1998. Initial renovation projects were completed and the building was readied for a new life as the Old Library Art Studio (OLAS). A re-dedication ceremony was held on May 26, 2001. In addition to the OLAS program, the Placer County Historical Society maintains an office and holds periodic meetings in the building.
At the turn of the millennium, the beautiful old library building was designated as a historic landmark. In June 2009, a centennial celebration was held in cooperation with the Placer County Historical Society and the Auburn Friends of the Library.