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The New York Public Library is one of the largest in the world.  Its massive structure on Fifth Avenue is one of the landmarks of Manhattan.  But contrary to public perception, the New York Public Library was not the gift by [[Andrew Carnegie]] or anyone else.  It is mostly the result of taxpayer funding.

The New York Public Library has about six million volumes, making it the 27th largest library in the United States.<ref>American Library Association Fact Sheet 22, "The Nation's Largest Libraries"</ref> Its massive structure on Fifth Avenue is one of the landmarks of Manhattan.  But contrary to public perception, the New York Public Library was not the gift by [[Andrew Carnegie]] or anyone else.  It is mostly the result of taxpayer funding.

The wealthiest man in American in the early 1800s was John Jacob Astor (1763–1848), who made his fortune from fur trade.  He donated a library in New York City which opened in 1849, and a book collector named James Lenox (1800–1880) added to it.  In 1886, Samuel J. Tilden (1814–1886) donated about $2.4 million to establish the first true library of New York City.  This consolidated and added to the Astor and Lenox gifts.

The wealthiest man in American in the early 1800s was John Jacob Astor (1763–1848), who made his fortune from fur trade.  He donated a library in New York City which opened in 1849, and a book collector named James Lenox (1800–1880) added to it.  In 1886, Samuel J. Tilden (1814–1886) donated about $2.4 million to establish the first true library of New York City.  This consolidated and added to the Astor and Lenox gifts.

Andrew Carnegie donated $5.2 million for branch libraries, but only on the condition that the City of New York fund their operations and maintenance.

Andrew Carnegie donated $5.2 million for branch libraries, but only on the condition that the City of New York fund their operations and maintenance.