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The Abilene Public Library and Herington Public Library will receive $10,000 each from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The grants come through Carnegie Libraries 250, an initiative celebrating America’s 250th birthday in 2026 and honoring the lasting legacy of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded more than 1,600 free public libraries across the United States between 1886 and 1917.

The libraries will receive the funds in January and may use the funds however they wish to celebrate the 250th anniversary, further their mission, and benefit their community. Carnegie Libraries 250 will provide $10,000 to 1,280 still-operating Carnegie libraries across the U.S.

Built in 1908 and 1916, the Abilene and Herington libraries are two of just 21 Carnegie libraries in Kansas that still use their original buildings.

Carnegie Corporation President Dame Louise Richardson said the awards honor Carnegie’s vision of libraries as “cradles of democracy,” strengthening equality and opportunity through access to knowledge.