Marton Carnegie Library - Marton, Rangitikei, NZ
Posted by: 
Phronimos
S 40° 04.120 E 175° 22.553
60G E 361501 N 5563357
The Marton Carnegie Library is the last library building in New Zealand to be funded by the Carnegie Foundation. It is one of the two Carnegie library buildings still fulfilling its original purpose.
Waymark Code: WM1APFF
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/18/2024
Views: 1
March 1914 Marton Borough Council applied to the Carnegie Foundation for finance to fund a new library building. On 1 September 1914 the Council received a letter confirming the Carnegie Corporation "will be glad to give £1,250 to erect a free public library for Marton" provided "the Council will pledge officially from taxation not less than £80 annually for the upkeep of the building."
The Council accepts Carnegie's offer, and architects James and Higgins' plans are approved. Construction on the High Street site by contractors Haddock and Hassell starts in November 1915. The library is fully operational by mid-year 1916, the local paper reporting that "the whole building is magnificently finished [with] fine roomy compartments [and] splendid lighting and ventilation."
The Carnegie Library facade [was] composed of a brick entablature above brick pilasters with leadlight windows regularly arrayed between. The entablature is edged by plaster decoration forming a proscenium-like arch framing the name 'Carnegie Library'. Roundels marked AD 1916 lie at the entablature's ends. Entrance to the library is through the arched door of the adjoining Borough Chambers.
Source. Libraries Aotearoa - Rangitikei District Libraries
Carnegie Library opening in Marton 1916 Retrieved 17/09/2024.
Internally, the building is divided into reading room and library. The ceiling is pressed tin, a mass-produced late Victorian product traditionally painted white to give the appearance of moulded plaster. Intricate plaster roses remain from the original lighting. The walls are tongue and groove, commonly used to line buildings of this age. Two probably gas fireplaces now marked by closed-in chimney breasts flank the southern wall. A lithograph portrait of Andrew Carnegie by Francis Luis Mora, gifted by the Carnegie Corporation as part of its grant, hangs in the library.
The building was remodelled in 1959, [to ameliorate earthquake risk] when the Carnegie Library facade was stripped of its masonry trimmings and decorative brickwork, the whole plastered over, leaving just the leadlight windows.
Source: Author unknown. 2016. Marton Carnegie Library 1916-2016 brochure card.