Wikipedia

Draft:Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning

Two-story building with Greek-style columns and red double-door at the end of a cement staircase.
The Carnegie Center's back entrance, facing historic Gratz Park, in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning is a nonprofit education center and events venue in Lexington, Kentucky. The Carnegie Center offers K-12 tutoring services, adult writing classes, and various events related to arts and literature.[1] The center started as an organization dedicated to adult literacy but over time became more involved in the literary arts. It has hosted the Kentucky Women Writers Conference as well as literacy organization Operation Read.[2]

Under director Neil Chethik, the Carnegie Center started the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame, which recognizes notable deceased authors from the region;[3] the Books-in-Progress Conference, to help local writers prepare their manuscripts for publication;[4] and Carnegie Classics, a celebration where a classic work of literature is used as inspiration for a multimedia event which includes contributions from local artists and businesses.[5]

History edit

The building for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning originally hosted Lexington's first Public Library, built in 1992 with a $60,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie[6] on land owned by Transylvania University.[7] When the city opened its Central Branch in 1989, the building was vacated and its future left uncertain.[6] In 1990, Mayor Scotty Baesler committed the building to being repaired and opened as a new literacy center.[8] On February 20, 1990, Lexington Urban County Council tentatively approved, without dissent, the Carnegie Literacy Center.[7]

On March 25, 1991, the Carnegie Library was "reborn" as the Carnegie Literacy Center with a ceremonial "name-painting" where dozens of local "civic and business leaders" wrote the names of their favorite authors on the wall of the old library.[9] With

The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning was founded in 1992 during a ceremony featuring First Lady Barbara Bush[10], who dedicated it as "a dream come true – an extraordinary place."[11]


Carnegie Classics edit

Carnegie Classics events are a one-night event celebrating a specific book.

Caption text
Year Book Celebrated
2013 To Kill a Mockingbird[12]
2014 The Catcher in the Rye[13]
2015 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas[14]
2016 Nineteen Eighty-Four[15]
2017 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass[16]
2018 Frankenstein[17]
2019 The Color Purple[18]
2022 The Little Prince
2023 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?[19]



References edit

  1. ^ "The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning - Lexington, KY - VisitLex". www.visitlex.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  2. ^ Mayo, Travis. "Programs Aid Adults in Quest for Literacy". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 16 – via NewsBank.
  3. ^ Chethik, Neil. "Rich literary heritage is something to celebrate - writers' achievements defy stereotypes of state". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. G30 – via NewsBank.
  4. ^ Lewis, Celeste (2012-06-05). "Lexington's Literary Mother Lode". Smiley Pete Publishing. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  5. ^ "4th Annual Carnegie Classic to Feature "Fear and Loathing"". WUKY. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  6. ^ a b Bean, Dottie (February 20, 1990). "Under Plan, Old Library Keeps Role in Reading". Lexington Herald-Leader – via NewsBank.
  7. ^ a b Bean, Dottie. "Literacy Center Plan for Old Library Wins Tentative Ok". Lexington Herald-Leader – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ Bean, Dottie. "Under Baesler, Lexington Stays Course". Lexington Herald-Leader – via NewsBank.
  9. ^ Bean, Dottie. "For the Love of Reading Old Library Dedicated as Center for Literacy". Lexington Herald-Leader – via NewsBank.
  10. ^ Reighard, Angela (2018-04-20). "Lexington man recalls Barbara Bush reading his class a book in 1992". https://www.wkyt.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-03. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  11. ^ "First Lady Barbara Bush's 1992 Lexington trip to improve literacy | Kentucky Photo Archive". Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  12. ^ "Multi-Genre Art Show Exhibits Local Art Inspired by "To Kill a Mockingbird"". WEKU. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  13. ^ "Carnegie Center Celebrates "Catcher In The Rye"". WUKY. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  14. ^ Today, Gonzo (2015-10-25). "GonzoToday | 4TH ANNUAL CARNEGIE CLASSICS EVENT: "FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS," BY HUNTER S. THOMPSO". GonzoToday. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  15. ^ Rosen, Kristina (2016-09-29). "Carnegie Classics: 1984, Carnegie Center | Ace Magazine | Lexington's original citywide magazine, since 1989". Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  16. ^ "Lexington's Carnegie Center To Become Alice's Wonderland For Annual Fundraiser". WUKY. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  17. ^ Staff (2018-09-28). "Haunted Happenings: 20 ways to get spooky this season". Smiley Pete Publishing. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  18. ^ Nance, Kevin (October 29, 2019). "At the Carnegie Center's most popular event, a Southern literary classic gets a toast". Kentucky.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  19. ^ http://www.kentuckymonthly.com/events/Carnegie%20Classics%3A%20Do%20Androids%20Dream%20of%20Electric%20Sheep%3F%20-%20Lexington/?occ_dtstart=2023-11-04T00:00
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