The Thoughtful Giving Library Program

Waterville, Maine's library, built in 1902, is one of 1,679 public libraries constructed nationwide as the result of grants from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie's personal code of philanthropy, summarized in his essay, the Gopsel of Wealth, set out strict guidelines for how, why, and for what purpose a person of means should give.

This series uses a lively selection of readings to approach a central and sometimes thorny issue in American society: philanthropy. Giving, be it of time or treasure, has played a significant role in the development of the United States and its unique network of charitable and voluntary organizations. Yet questions of wealth, generosity and money are almost guaranteed to provoke discomfort, as charity has always been a deeply personal and private matter.

Readings for this new series in the Let's Talk About It public reading and discussion program are drawn from an anthology edited by Amy Kass entitled The Perfect Gift: the Philanthropic Imagination in Poetry and Prose. Readings for this four-part series can be customized to meet the particular interests of the audience, and have included short selections by Edith Wharton, O. Henry, Sarah Orne Jewett, Rabindranath Tagore, and others.

While the series is available to general audiences of library patrons, you may wish to consider using it with your library board or friends group (see our section on Thoughtful Giving for Civic Groups).

For more information on how your Maine library can book a series of these discussions, please contact Lizz Sinclair, the project director for Let's Talk About It.