The provision of this library came about by John Claridge, the shoe manufacturer, writing a letter to Andrew Carnegie requesting financial assistance to build a library in Rushden. A reply was received:- "Mr. Carnegie will be glad to provide £2000 to provide a true Public Library building for Rushden....... on condition that a suitable site be purchased, which should not be a burden on the rate.

Eight sites were considered and the one chosen on the corner of Newton Road and Park Road was owned by Mr. Sartoris and Mr. Claridges' Company. Each sold their share for £125, and the R. U.D. C, set aside £25 for books.

The library was opened on November 25th, 1905 (Andrew Carnegie's 70th birthday.) by the Marquis of Northampton.

It is interesting to note, that it was not until 1913, that Andrew Carnegie set up 'The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (Dunfermline)", which included among its designated purposes 'building of libraries'.

It would therefore seem that Rushden was the catalyst for this benevolence.

Andrew Carnegie was born on November 25th, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland and died August 11th, 1919 in Lenox, U.S.A. He made his fortune in the Steel Industry, selling his Company in 1901 to J. P. Morgan's United States Steel Corporation for $250,000,000, when he retired. Of his wealth he distributed $350,000,000 through his various charitable trusts.