Rare Book Monthly

Articles - June - 2019 Issue

From a Carnegie Library to an Apple Store - a 21st Century Transformation

Image from the Apple website.

Image from the Apple website.

Electronic devices, digital reading and viewing have been eating away at the use of print books for a long time now. It is a trend that has bothered some book lovers and many educators for a similarly long time. Now comes a story featuring the ultimate in cruel irony for those who love print. Washington's Carnegie Library has been converted into an Apple store.

 

This story is not quite as bad as it sounds.

 

The Carnegie Library in Washington was completed in 1903. Andrew Carnegie was the enormously wealthy, turn-of-the-century steel magnate. He spent his middle years ruthlessly acquiring a vast fortune, his later years generously giving it away. Talk about having a mixed legacy. By 1903, Carnegie had already funded numerous libraries. The one in Washington reputedly arose from a chance encounter. The story is that Carnegie met a member of the D.C. library board in a waiting room at the White House. The conversation led to Carnegie writing out a check on the spot for $250,000. I don't know what $250,000 in 1903 amounts to today, but it is probably one of those numbers that has to be expressed in light years. The 19th century ruthless businessman had become the 20th century benevolent philanthropist.

 

The Carnegie Library remained the major library in Washington for the next 70 years, but it is no longer. That is why this story is not so awful as it sounds. Large as it was, the Carnegie Library became overcrowded. In 1972, it was replaced by the Martin Luther King Library, which remains a library. The Carnegie has had a few different uses in the years since, but those uses have been limited. Books were stored there, and prior to Apple's moving in, it had only one tenant, the Historical Society of Washington. The current owners have been looking for suitable additional tenants for a while.

 

The Apple Store will be located on the Carnegie's main floor. The Historical Society remains on the second floor. Meanwhile, books stored in the old library will be moved elsewhere. On its website, Apple says, "Inspired by the rich history of Carnegie Library, we are reimagining Apple Carnegie Library as a brand-new space to learn. Where everyone is welcome to come and discover all kinds of creativity, connect with new ideas, and share their stories." That sounds sort of like what a library attempts to do, though I imagine, in addition, Apple hopes to make some money. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been quoted as saying "store" isn't really the right word to use any more because it is much more, a community, place for learning, and buying things is "is probably one of the least done things" in an Apple store. Perhaps, but brand loyalty and the use of Apple's services, rather than just buying hardware, is part of their equation today. Maybe, like Carnegie, they've turned the corner from the earning stage to the philanthropic stage. Maybe, but probably not. Carnegie did not have shareholders to contend with; Apple does.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Gros & Delettrez
    Livres & Manuscrits Arméniens
    Jeudi 12 juin 2025
    Paris, Francis
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: BIBLE, Venise 1733, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit daté 1606, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit début XVIIIe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1664
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1702, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: DICTIONNAIRE arménien, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle.
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: EVANGILE, manuscrit 1735-1737, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LIVRE DE PRIERES, Grégoire de Narek, manuscrit
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: GEOGRAPHIE, Ghoukas INDJIDJIAN, Venise 1802-1806
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MANUSCRIT THEOLOGIQUE, XVIe-XVIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MASHTOTS, manuscrit XVIIIe-XIXe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne
  • Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
    DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
    DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
    DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
  • Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
    Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR

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