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JANUARY 2026 | LIBRARY NEWS |
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DIRECTOR'S NOTE Happy New Year! 2026 is going to be BIG at the library! We are celebrating 125 years in our beautiful building and will be taking a journey through each of the decade's starting with the early 1900's. Look for special displays and events each month, as we honor our library's history. I can only imagine all this building has seen and heard in 125 years of serving our community. Read below for a little bit of information about Mr. Carnegie and his support for libraries across the world. What an amazing gift we have here in Sedalia! Peace in the New Year- Jamie Sparks, Director |
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WHO WAS ANDREW CARNEGIE? Andrew Carnegie was 12 years old when he moved to the USA from Scotland in 1848—right in the middle of the American Industrial Revolution—along with his working-class family. He immediately found work in a factory and, with hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit, succeeded and started investing his money. He was able to start his own steel company and eventually became one of the richest men in the world. Carnegie decided to use his wealth to help others, becoming known as the “father of philanthropy.” He remembered being able to use a private library as he was working his way up, so from 1883 to 1929 he donated $55 million to fund the construction of over 2,500 libraries around the world. HOW MANY LIBRARIES WERE BUILT IN THE USA? The USA had 1,689 public libraries built thanks to Carnegie grants. Of those, about 750 are still functioning as libraries today. Carnegie donated over $45 million to libraries in the USA. The State of New York received the biggest donation, approximately $6.7 million. WHAT WAS THE FIRST CARNEGIE LIBRARY IN MO? The first Carnegie library in Missouri was the Sedalia Public Library, which received its $50,000 grant in late 1899 and opened its new Greek Revival building in 1901, becoming the first in the state to get Carnegie funding for construction. |
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Join the discussion!
We will discuss a new book each month. Join us either day! 2nd Monday 5:30pm-6:30pm or 2nd Tuesday 2pm-3pm Open to all adults who have read the book! Need to borrow a copy? Pick one up at the front desk! January: Still Life, by Lousie Penny |
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Additional Monthly Programs for Adults: - Create & Connect-4th Monday of each month at 5:30pm
- 3rd Saturday of each month-10am
Mark your calendar to participate in our Winter Reading Program in February-details coming soon!
See our website calendar for details of events
sedalialibrary.com |
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- LEGO Club: 1st & 3rd Monday's 4:30-6:30pm, all ages
- Bookworms: 2nd Monday 5:45pm, elementary ages
- Evening Storytime: 4th Monday 5:45pm, preschool ages
- Morning Storytime: every Thursday 10am, preschool ages
- 3rd Saturday of each month: 10am-noon, programs vary (check our website for details)
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125th Celebration Scavenger Hunt |
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Bring the family by Children's Department in January to participate in our 125th Celebration Scavenger Hunt! We'll send you on an adventure, exploring the library and learning a little history along the way. Starts Jan. 5 |
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The Library's Beginning 1901: 1900-1910's The Gilded Age
Books about the Gilded Age cover opulent high society, industrial rise, poverty, and social change. Join us as we take a reading journey through the library's beginning. |
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The Age of Innocence
by Edith Wharton
Enjoy Edith Wharton's signature grace and insight in this sumptuous edition of the timeless Gilded Age story The Age of Innocence. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and one of the most celebrated novels of the twentieth century, The Age of Innocence explores the intricate social world of Gilded Age New York. Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to the beautiful and proper May Welland, finds his carefully ordered life upended by the arrival of Countess Ellen Olenska, a woman whose independence and defiance of convention challenge every rule of the society he knows. Torn between duty and desire, Archer must choose between the expectations of his world and the yearning of his heart in this timeless story of love, loss, and the cost of conformity. This stunning heirloom edition features: A foil-embossed coverUnabridged textGorgeous designAn ideal gift for any bibliophile, this exquisite edition will be treasured for generations. Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, Chartwell Deluxe Editions offer beautifully presented works from some of the most important authors in literary history. Other deluxe classics from Chartwell include Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Moby Dick, Emma, Dracula, The Odyssey, Inferno, and The Republic.
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Carnegie's Maid
by Marie Benedict
Clara Kelley is not the experienced Irish maid hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, so Clara is pretending to be her--if she can keep up the ruse. [This book] tells the story of a brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie toward philanthropy--Publisher's description.
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The Personal Librarian: A GMA Book Club Pick
by Marie Benedict
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J.P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white--her complexion is dark because she is Black. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to--for the protection of her family and her legacy--to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives --
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The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
First published in 1902, The Tale of Peter Rabbit remains one of the most beloved children's stories of all time. Beatrix Potter's timeless tale follows the mischievous young rabbit, Peter, who disobeys his mother and ventures into Mr. McGregor's garden-only to find himself in a daring chase for his life. Full of charm, wit, and gentle lessons about curiosity and courage, this story has delighted generations of readers across the world.This MCP Classics Dyslexic Inclusive Edition brings Potter's original text and illustrations to a new generation of readers in a format designed to be accessible to all. The book is printed in Dyslexie Font, a specially designed typeface that helps reduce common reading challenges associated with dyslexia, such as letter flipping and line skipping. Combined with wider spacing, cream-colored pages, and careful layout design, this edition creates a smoother, more comfortable reading experience-without losing any of the charm of the original.With restored illustrations and elegant, vintage styling, this edition honors Beatrix Potter's artistry while making her classic tale truly inclusive. Ideal for parents, educators, and collectors, The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Dyslexic Inclusive Edition invites every kind of reader to enjoy the magic of Beatrix Potter's world.
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National Slow Cooking and Soup Month Browse a selection of cookbooks to help you plan your next cozy dinner! |
Mental Wellness Awareness Month
January is Mental Wellness Awareness Month. This is the time to recognize the importance of attending to our mental health, especially seeing the vast prevalence of mental health issues and disorders that exist in our world. Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health. |
CLOSURES-Jan. 1 & Jan. 19 |
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