Failsworth has had two public libraries in its history, both of which were gifted to the people of Failsworth by generous benefactors.

The first, and now closed library is the Carnegie Library, which is joined onto Failsworth Town Hall. Andrew Carnegie (1855—1919) was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and emigrated to America in 1848. After early struggles he established the Carnegie Iron Works. He made his fortune, and gave munificent gifts to educational work and free libraries. Luckily Failsworth didn’t miss out, and in 1909 the Township got its free library. Four years previous to this, a Robert Sidlow had started up in business as a grocer; but more of him later.

OPENING OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY

From the “Oldham Chronicle” 18th October 1909:

The proceedings opened by the chairman presenting Councillor Bailey JP with a beautiful gold key. When the door had been opened the company proceeded inside, where the chairman said he was sorry that they had been unable to make this a public opening instead of an official one, but having sent out over 80 invitations they found it impossible to accommodate the public. The opening had long been delayed, for the contractors had met with some (un-stated) drawbacks. He thought that they would all agree that the building did credit to the architect (Mr Ogden) and the contractors. It certainly made their Town Hall look very common.

They had some trouble in providing the books. The Failsworth Industrial Society had kindly handed over to them all the books in their library as a gift to celebrate the jubilee of their society. (Miss AE Davenport was the FIS librarian, and. when the books were handed over to the free library Miss Davenport went with them to serve as the Free Library librarian). It was decided to adopt a modern system in the arranging of the books. (They used the “closed system,” whereby the borrowers stood at a counter and viewed a catalogue, and the chosen book was brought to them by staff, as opposed to the “open system” where the borrower wanders round at will and takes the selected book to the counter for checkout).

They had already added over 2000 books to the 2000 given to them by the FI2. These books would be added from time to time and the public would be able to suggest titles that might be added.

In regard to the building they were pleased that in the competition for designs for the building, a young Failsworth man had gained first prize and had been engaged as architect. They would be aware that Mr Carnegie had provided them with the wherewithal to buy the library, and had promised them £5,000 but there had been some extras and they did not expect any difficulty in obtaining from him the full cost. There were some people who objected to them receiving this money. (Mr Carnegie, or anybody else, could not have got so rich so quickly without bending the law, they stated, and besides, he employed non-­union labour). Lie was not there to defend how Mr Carnegie had made his money; he did not know how that was - he thought he must have made it by industry — but he certainly approved of the way he was using some of it.

They had invited Mr Carnegie to open the library, but they had been unable to get him to come, though he wrote wishing them success in their efforts.

The Chairman acknowledged the handsome gift of two pictures made to the library by Mr Jas S Smith, and added that there was plenty of room on their walls for more.

MR V. J. Stephenson presented the books which had previously been in the FIS library. He thought that libraries would not be of the same use in the future as in the past, because there were so many good books to be had cheaply, but still there were many books that the ordinary individual could not afford to buy.

It was in 1915 that the Town Hall was altered and extended in a curiously matching but totally different design to the library, thereby making it look less common.

It was in 1961 that first mention was made of “design and layout of proposed new library building on the site of Main Street behind the Clock Tower Gardens.

The new library opened 28th July 1962, and was called “The Robert Sidlow Library” after the local man who had given £25,000 towards the venture. Mr Sidlow had been born in Newton Heath c1884. He started out in the grocery business in 1905 and built up a chain of 28 shops, but disposed of his wine interests to Fosters Wine Merchants in 1953. When Failsworth Lads Club wanted a new HQ he bought the old Secular School on Pole Lane, and handed it over to them. In return he was made President in 1958. He died in Nov 1967 at Southport and is buried in Birkdale Cemetery. He left a personal estate of £525,000 in the Isle of Nan.

Oldham Chronicle Mon 50th July 1962.

“Failsworth’s new £25,000 library was opened on Saturday by the man who had financed the project. Hundreds watched as Mr Robert Sidlow, now living in retirement in Southport, officially opened the library in Main Street behind Failsworth Pole.

Among the hundreds who watched was the man who had designed the building, Mr John L Hewlett, of Paulden Drive, Failsworth.

Mr Hewlett, an engineering assistant in the surveyor’s department at Failsworth, was congratulated on his work at a civic lunch in Sidlow House, (Ex—Secular 5chool, Pole Lane), which followed the ceremony.

Principal factor in his design is the use of maximum light achieved by huge windows and a glass-walled inner courtyard containing a lily pond and fountain. (gone).

County Councillor Harry Jones, chairman of the Failsworth Library Committee, called it a memorable day in the history of Failsworth, for the new library would eventually stock 21,000 books, 8,000 more than in the former library on Oldham Road.

Mr Sidlow recalled his links with Failsworth. His parents and grand­parents had lived in the district, and he thought it was fitting that having founded his business there he should do something for the benefit of the people. ~I should have been an unworthy son of Failsworth if I had failed to do what I have done.’

He had earlier in the day also presented a comprehensive atlas to the library stock, and at the luncheon was given a golden key which fitted the front door of the building.”

In 1962 the Carnegie Library had shut for a week for the removal of stock to the Sidlow Library. The first two weeks at the new library were “fine free” for the recovery of overdue books from the Carnegie, and by Feb 1965 the Sidlow Library was open 50 hours per week. In March 1968 it was reported that the illuminated sign, which incorp­orated the signature of the late Robert Sidlow, on the N end of the library, had again been damaged by vandals. A new one was ordered (white with blue letters) at £197. But worse was to come. In 2003 the sign was removed completely by the authorities, as the library had become a ‘One Stop Shop’ continuing as a library, which, if nothing else, harks back to Robert Sidlow’s emporia.