Stoke library, corner of Walsgrave Road & Kingsway, Coventry

Image: © A J Paxton Taken: 11 Jun 2021

One of three Carnegie libraries in Coventry; the others are on Earlsdon Avenue North in Earlsdon and on Broad Street in Foleshill. Carnegie libraries were built with money given by the Scottish-American business magnate Andrew Carnegie; over 2000 were constructed between 1886 and 1929, 660 of them in Britain & Ireland. The libraries were an expression of his belief in self-help and were deliberately built in prominent public places, typically with a grand entrance with steps, symbolising the raising up of the reader through learning, something which is very evident at Stoke, although a ramp has also been provided. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_library The city of Coventry approached Carnegie and his foundation in 1910 for funding to build three branch libraries, and was awarded £10000, on condition the city provided the land and an additional rate (tax) to fund the running of the libraries, which it did the following year. https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/20370/req00916 The Coventry libraries are built in red brick with sandstone dressings in a baroque style. They are all still in use as public libraries.

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