Press Room

Letter to Governor Rendell from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Library Directors
February 2, 2010: "As you prepare for your 2010-2011 budget release on February 9, we want to remind you of the key role public libraries play in the educational fabric of the communities we serve."

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Welcomes New Trustees
January 27, 2010: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees announces the appointment of six new members and the election of one Life Trustee.

Colcom Foundation Grant Awarded to Enhance Library Service to City Residents
January 22, 2010: City residents will have greater opportunity to engage with library staff and services thanks to a grant to expand Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s community outreach programs.

Library for Blind and Physically Handicapped Announces New Digital System
December 22, 2009: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) has announced it is beginning distribution of new digital audio books and digital players to its customers.

Revised Action Plan
December 14, 2009: Thanks to the support of the community and short-term funding from the City of Pittsburgh, the Library’s Board of Trustees was able to make the following changes to the 2010 Action Plan.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Board Sets Topics for December 14 Meeting
December 10, 2009: As a special accommodation for public comment, community members are invited to speak at a public forum that will be held in conjunction with the Library Board’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Library Announces New Fines and Fees for 2010
December 4, 2009: Long-term funding outlook cause for increased fees at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Public Comment Welcome Prior to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s December Board Meeting
December 1, 2009: In order to engage the community in continuing dialog regarding Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s ongoing funding challenges, the Library’s Board of Trustees is providing several public forums during the month of December.

Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped Director Appointed to Governor’s Advisory Committee
November 24, 2009: Kathleen Kappel, Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH), has been appointed by Governor Ed Rendell to the Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Blind.

Library Board Assures Transparency and Refutes Allegations
November 18, 2009: Board and elected officials to meet about funding solutions. Public comment period to be held in conjunction with December board meeting.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Issues the Following Statement Regarding Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Proposed 2010 Budget
November 9, 2009: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Administration and Board of Trustees will work collaboratively with the Mayor and others who want to guarantee that Pittsburgh’s library system remains strong for all generations.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Issues Updated 2010 Budget and Assessment Documents to Allegheny Regional Asset District
November 5, 2009: The submittal includes an updated five-year budget projection along with supplemental materials. Also available on the Library’s Web site are independent studies from the RAND Corporation and Carnegie Mellon University, and other materials relevant to the assessment process undertaken by the Library system’s Board of Trustees.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees Approves Plan to Reduce Cost Structure Due to Declines in Funding
October 6, 2009: Four branches to close, two to merge, one to relocate in effort to protect quality of programs, collections and services. Library hours to be cut; staff to be reduced; fines and fees to increase. New programs to take library services out to communities.

Digital Bookmobile Rolls into Pittsburgh During National Tour Event
September 28, 2009: Download experience promotes free audiobook and video download service available at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Banned Books Event Celebrates Freedom To Read—And To Laugh
Program Will Honor Memory of Pittsburgher Judith Krug, Founder of National Banned Books Week.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Prepares for G-20 Summit
September 17, 2009: CLP – Downtown & Business and CLP – Main in Oakland to close during international meeting

Pittsburgh’s Newest Library Opens!
August 29, 2009: After a three-year hiatus, library service on the North Side resumes with opening of CLP – Allegheny

Two-Day Celebration Planned in Honor of Pittsburgh’s Newest Library Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
August 18, 2009: Allegheny set to open August 28-29 in grand style.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Town Hall Meetings Featured Public Pleas for Dedicated Funding, No Branch Closings and Ideas on Raising Money to Avoid Deep Cuts in Services and Locations
August 10, 2009: Approximately 400 Pittsburgh residents demonstrated strong support for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh during three Town Hall meetings the library convened during the month of July.

Comics fans are drawn to Pitsburgh's many shops, museum
"Before you enter 'the stacks [of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Main Library],' you'll notice a full wall of graphic novels and comics anthologies. It's an amazing collection, heavy on the Japanese manga series - - beloved by American teenagers these days - - but also including almost every significant graphic novel of the past 10 to 15 years. "
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Monday, February 8, 2010

Libraries lament loss of funding for databases
"...many of the hundreds of subscription databases offered by Pennsylvania's public libraries -- and the convenient remote access many of them offer -- will vanish this year, victims of slashed state and local funding."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
January 24, 2010

The Insider Guide to the Northside
This PopCity article shows how the Northside has staged a comeback, especially in its ability to attract families. And one of the "must-haves"? "a brand spanking new Carnegie Library with a wonderful children's section"
PopCity
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Three new children's books explore father-daughter bonds
Debbie Priore, a CLP-Main children's librarian, reviews 3 books:
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy)
The Georges and the Jewels
Crow Call
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Polish Hill visits Oakland
Check out the historic photos of Polish Hill in The Gallery at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 7, 2010

Libraries reaping benefits from bill
"The county's two public library systems were winners yesterday when Gov. Ed Rendell approved table games at the state's casinos, but the predicted revenues might not cover looming deficits, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Director Barbara Mistick said yesterday."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Friday, January 08, 2010

Libraries forced to slash hours, staff, popular programs
Last year, the system reimbursed libraries in Allegheny County, including the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, $700000, for costs incurred from nonresidents ...
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Friday, January 08, 2010

Read this: Pittsburgh the fourth most-literate U.S. city
"Pittsburgh jumped to fourth in the seventh annual study of America's Most Literate Cities released this month by Central Connecticut State University...Pittsburgh's highest ranking came in libraries, where it placed third. The study measured the number of library branches per capita, the number of volumes held, a library's circulation per capita and number of staff."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Hazelwood: A forgotten neighborhood
"The Carnegie Library, which moved to Second Avenue in 2004, has become a critical piece to the Hazelwood Community, residents said...Hazelwood's historic Carnegie Library, shuttered and closed, stands as a stark reminder of what the community has lost."
Point Park News Service
December 23, 2009

Library for Blind and Physically Handicapped Announces New Digital System
"Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) has announced it is beginning distribution of new digital audio books and digital players to its customers."
PRNewswire-USNewswire
Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Libraries buoyed by table games bill
Table games legislation that cleared a legislative hurdle Wednesday looks to be a winning hand, but not a jackpot, for local libraries.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Friday, December 18, 2009

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh urged to grab late fees
Thousands of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh patrons collectively owe more than $1 million in late fees, but library officials have no plan to get tougher about collecting the money.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Wednesday, December 16, 2009

4 library branches in city win reprieve
Stopgap funding, casino contribution allow them to stay open another year
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Carnegie board delays closings of four branch libraries
After two months of protests and a lawsuit, the board of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh approved a plan Monday to delay the closing of four branches and the relocation of another until 2011.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Carnegie board votes to keep branches open for a year
After a public hearing today, the Carnegie Library's board of trustees decided to postpone for at least one year the closure of four library branches and the reduction of operating hours.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Monday, December 14, 2009

Board Votes to Accept Funding for Libraries
Board members of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh say the closing of four branches has been averted, at least for now.
KDKA
Monday, December 14, 2009

Meeting to decide fate of library branches not open to the public
The library board will decide at that meeting whether to delay closing branches in Lawrenceville, Beechview, Hazelwood and the West End, merging the Carrick and Knoxville branches and moving the Mt. Washington library from Grandview to Virginia Avenue.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Monday, December 7, 2009