The Mexico-Audrain County Library District will receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie.

The award is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the roughly 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States, a news release stated.

Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 free public libraries nationwide between 1886 and 1917. Approximately, 750 of them continue to use their original buildings, while others have moved to new locations. Opened in 1912, the Mexico library is one of several Carnegie Libraries in Missouri built through this historic program and still being used as a library.

“This gift honors the history of Carnegie Libraries and the role they have played in communities nationwide for more than a century,” library director Christal Bruner said in the release.

“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, who championed the free public library movement of the late 19th century, described libraries as ‘cradles of democracy’ that ‘strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man,’” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and former head of the University of Oxford in the release. “We still believe this and are delighted to celebrate our connection to the libraries he founded.”

Mexico-Audrain County Library will receive the gift in January 2026, and the library may use the funds; however, the library wished to celebrate the 250th anniversary, further its mission, and benefit its community.

Patrons are invited to share their Mexico-Audrain County Library photos of the Carnegie Library, stories, and community celebrations at carnegielibraries.org.