The collection is broken into four series and spans the years 1940 to 2006, with the bulk of the material pertaining to the years 1993 to 2000. Much of the collection concerns strategic and renovation planning and includes information such as site surveys and renovation proposals. The collection also includes several older plans that were implanted or proposed between 1940 and 1979. This material seems to have been used as reference when CLP was designing the 1999-2000 "Agenda For Change." Other reference material, which has been removed from the collection, included similar proposals from libraries across the nation.
Other material includes community survey results from the mid-1990s as well as budget information and a single VHS cassette.
The majority of this collection has been organized by topic and arranged in chronological order with each series. The "Agenda For Change" folder has been retained in original order and includes a presentation, redesign proposals, correspondence, financial planning proposals and related material. The collection includes a number of binders and booklets which have been designated as "folders" in the Container List.
The Development Office has undergone some administrative changes over the years and is now known as the Office of External and Government Relations. This office oversees all capital funding, annual giving and government relations.
Starting in 2001, CLP started to implement massive renovations throughout all branches. At that time, "the average age of the buildings was 79 years old, no facility was in complete compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), many lacked temperature control and all were in dire need of repair and renovation." Planning focused on providing better service to youth and seniors, updating the buildings through physical renovations and giving a greater role to "virtual reference." During the years before implementation of this plan, the Development Office played an integral role in the process of strategic planning and budget control. Much of the material in this collection relates to the development of a working strategic plan and funding options.
There are no access restrictions.
There are no use restrictions.
The materials were moved from the Development Office to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room in January 2011
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main - Development Office sends new materials to the Oliver Room on an irregular schedule.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main - Development Office, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
The Community Surveys series includes material concerning public perception, attendance at library branches, and two reports on the results of community surveys conducted by the University of Minnesota Center for Survey Research.
Financial & Budget Information includes an independent report on audited financial statements conducted by Schneider Downs & Co. for the years 2004-5. This series also includes a 1998 budget request sent to the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
Audio-Visual Material includes only a single VHS cassette titled "Summer Reading Club," a recording of news report presented by Fox 53.