history

A Heritage of Giving

In some sense, the Foundation and a spirit of Library giving goes back more than 150 years. In 1857, Waverly residents made donations to create a traveling book collection for public use. With a $10,000 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the first permanent Library building then opened in 1905. 

By 1968, the Waverly Public Library had outgrown its space and a new wrap-around structure was built. After 30 years it was time for an even bigger facility, and gifts from the public helped erect a new building in 1998 at the current location. The Waverly Public Library Foundation was established that same year with starter funds remaining from the building project.



Just 25 years later, it was time to renovate the Library again to meet the changing needs of the public. With the generous support of community gifts and grants, the Foundation’s Make Room for Renewal project expanded and fully renovated the building, reopening in November of 2024. 

The Carnegie Legacy

The Library was founded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie 120 years ago, and continues to celebrate its long Waverly heritage. As part of the renewal project, Foundation gifts were used to help refinish the original Carnegie furniture still used throughout the building. 

An additional Carnegie grant was recently received in preparation for the Country’s 250th anniversary in 2026, and will help the Library advance into the future.

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.

Andrew Carnegie