Requesting approval to accept and expend a $30,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to the Public Library for library operations.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council accept and approve expending a gift of $30,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to the Somerville Public Library, under the provisions of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A. The purpose of this gift is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's belief that public libraries are 'cradles of democracy'. The Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded $10,000 for each Carnegie building that is still being used as a public library. Somerville received Carnegie funding approximately 115 years ago to build our Central Library, East Branch, and West Branch. Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this item. Respectfully submitted, Jake Wilson, Mayor