August 26, 1999

Andrew Carnegie's gift of $5.2 million nearly century ago built 65 public library branches in New York City; second Carnegie gift is flowing into libraries, intended to help them teach reading, sponsor music and arts activities and lend hundreds of new books written for children and immigrants; Carnegie Corp in June awarded $2 million to New York Public Library and $1 million each to Queens Borough Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library; foundation also gave $11 million to 22 other public libraries around country, but largest grants went to libraries that its founder helped establish (M)

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column contends that pitcher Kenny Rogers is just as quirky with New York Mets as he was with New York Yankees; photo (M)

After-Hours Trading Many small investors got their first shot at after-hours stock trading through two on-line brokers. Trading was lackluster, but an explosive start was not expected. PAGE C1

Thousands of tennis fans are flocking to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to watch qualifying rounds of US Open, in which 256 men and women compete for 32 slots in most important tennis tournament in US; matches are free, and it is one of New York's best-kept secrets; photos (M)

State of the Art column describes Motorolas's new Startac Clip-On Organizer, $250 device that clips onto back of its Startac cellular phone; drawing (M)