Nowadays we think of the Carnegie Libraries as charming little pods of learning, strewn around the nation like silver dollars thrown from a passing limo. They brought Shakespeare to Main Street, established the prim pursed-lip shushing lady as the national conception of the librarian, and for millions of people seemed like an embassy to the world beyond. Asylum was granted to anyone who walked in, kept his voice down, and didn't rip out the pictures of the naked ladies in the art books.

If this looks like a rather bucolic setting for a Carnegie, there's a reason. . .