Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main

About the Carnegie Library

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is a staple of the city. Providing thousands of community members with access to books and digital media, the library system has surely established itself as an imperative part of Pittsburgh.

The original Carnegie Library is a fun and interactive place right in the heart of Oakland. Because the library is connected to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, it is one of the largest functioning Carnegie libraries. This library is one of many that has been funded by Andrew Carnegie’s steel empire. Carnegie sought to create “rags-to-riches” stories for the residents of Pittsburgh, similar to his own story as the son of immigrants. There are many satellite branches of Carnegie’s library system all around the world; however, 19 of them rest within Pittsburgh’s city limits.

The library houses a wide array of books, computers programmed with databases for research, as well as programs to help community members locate books in the library’s vast expanse of bookshelves. In the children’s section, the computers are even equipped with games that encourage learning and the development of basic educational skills, such as reading and comprehension.

The Carnegie Library also services college students looking to escape the Hillman Library, the University of Pittsburgh’s library that is positioned just across Schenley Plaza. While the campus library is an excellent resource for students, some students may feel limited or over-crowded in the four floors that seem to always be full with classmates who are frantically studying. The Carnegie Library is often very quiet, with many tucked-away nooks built in to its floor plan, making it a welcoming environment for both studying and relaxation.

In addition to all of the books, CDs, films, computer programs, etc., the library offers group reading sessions for young children, classes (some for learning new languages, others for learning new methods of using digital media, such as gaming, or other computer-based skills), and many other activities and inclusive community gatherings. All of the events are listed by day and time on their website and all are welcome to join at any time.

Neighborhood
Oakland

The Motivation that Fueled the Controversy

The Carnegie library of Pittsburgh is one of the many Carnegie libraries that can be seen around the world. Carnegie’s libraries are living legacies to his charity and compassion to the community. The Carnegie library of Pittsburgh is one of the largest ones that underwent extensive remodeling to shape the building to Carnegie’s liking and to attach the Carnegie museum of natural history to the library. Due to this change it’s possible to be wondering through stacks of books and look out certain windows and be meet with dinosaurs.

Moving Forward and Looking Back

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) graces the city with 19 different locations around the 58 square miles that make up city limits. Pittsburgh can thank Andrew Carnegie, steel entrepreneur, for this specific contribution. Carnegie sought to use his funds in the most philanthropic way he knew how: providing access to education to all people of the world, no matter their socioeconomic class.

Carnegie's Gifts

Andrew Carnegie continues to give and take from the City of Pittsburgh and its people even today, nearly 100 years after his death. Many consider the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Central Library the crown jewel of his gifts to Pittsburgh. As a self-educated man, Carnegie borrowed books from the private library of local iron mogul Colonel James Anderson and constantly expressed the importance of what he called “life-long learning” (Holt).

A Place to Grow and Learn

Andrew Carnegie made his fortune in steel, becoming the world’s richest man in 1901 (Standiford 13). He did not hold on tightly to his wealth, however, but was a proponent of philanthropy, as detailed in an article he wrote called “The Gospel of Wealth.” He believed that the rich should give back to their communities and to those less wealthy in order to improve their lives and society as a whole. Due to his efforts, he is said to have “established the precedent of corporate philanthropy” which exists to this day (Standiford 13).