Over a century after Carnegie Libraries opened in Huntsville and Moberly, Randolph County’s two branches in the Little Dixie Regional Library have expanded to include more than just books and literature available for patrons to check out.

LDRL Director Rachael Grime tells KMMO News that as needs and technology have changed over the years, the two libraries have grown to now become part of a system that also includes branches in neighboring Monroe County.

Grime says libraries remain hubs of their community, just as Andrew Carnegie envisioned when the steel magnate began donating funds across the nation to fund the construction of over 16-hundred libraries.

Grime highlights another item available for check-out at Little Dixie’s branches: ties.

Little Dixie Regional Library will receive $20,000 from the Carnegie Corporation in recognition of their two Carnegie Libraries as part of next year’s America 250 celebrations. Grime says the funds will go toward programming focused on American history.