The story of the Corbin Library begins with Ada Gray Gilliam, a trailblazing woman from one of the town's founding families. Fueled by her passion for education, Ada led efforts to establish a library in Corbin. As head of the Women’s Improvement Club, she rallied support and personally traveled to Washington, D.C., to seek funding from Andrew Carnegie. With a $6,000 grant from Carnegie's foundation and local commitments, the library was established in February 1915. It opened with adult and junior reading rooms, becoming a vibrant community hub for learning and enrichment.
