The collection consists of fifteen series which span the years 1934 to 2005. Many of the series consist of a small number of folders and these series are grouped into the beginning as box one contains the first eleven series. Three larger series are grouped into the second box. The final series of reports and statistics is by far the largest series and takes up two boxes.
Arrangement
The materials in the collection have been separated into fifteen series and arranged primarily by date or subject. The majority of the collection was arranged according to original order, while some materials were moved so to keep similar materials together.
Biographical / Historical
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch is the oldest branch of the eighteen branches of the Carnegie Library. On the North Side of Pittsburgh in what was originally the City of Allegheny, the Allegheny Regional Library opened in 1890 as the Carnegie Free Library. Andrew Carnegie chose the City of Allegheny for his public library on the condition that it would be supported by public funds. The building cost $300,000 and began construction in 1886. The original building opened in 1890 and Carnegie funded the 1915 addition with $150,000. The building contained a music hall that had a seating capacity of 1,100. The architects, Smithmeyer and Pelz of DC, who were also responsible for the 1889 Library of Congress, completed the building.
The library merged with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and was renamed the Allegheny Regional Branch Library in 1956. In 1967, the branch underwent major remodeling and renovation and operations were moved temporarily to the Allegheny Center Mall. The interior renovation and exterior cleaning of the massive granite structure took seven years and the library reopened its doors on May 19, 1974. Renovations and additions since its opening include: 1897, 1901, 1905 1906, and 1958.
In service for over a hundred years, the Allegheny Regional Branch services the populations of the North Side and downtown as well as Pittsburgh's northern boroughs and townships. One of the 18 Carnegie Branch Libraries, its collections of over 100,000 volumes is the second largest in the system. The collection includes items of interest to children, young adults, and adults ranging from classics to best sellers. Its offers magazines, large print books, audio cassettes, and record albums. The library also provides a wide variety of adult and young adult programming. The reference department contains government documents, newspapers, periodicals, out-of-state telephone directories, microfilm/fiche readers, and wide range of other information resources.
Children's services are a large part of the library's services and the library offers book talks, storytelling, puppet plays, and library orientations. Programs are offered to 24 Headstarts, daycares centers, and preschools in the North Side and downtown Pittsburgh as well as 14 elementary schools and secondary schools, and 12 youth agencies on the North Side.
Also the headquarters of for NeighborLINE, a public/private partnership of the Carnegie library of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh's graduate school of public and international affairs, the community information exchange and the north side conference. The project provides neighborhood organizations with access to computer equipment, software, and databases provided by the community information exchange. The library also works with many literacy initiatives, including Beginning with Books, the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council and Reading is Fundamental/North Side.
Another component of the North Side branch is the Pittsburg film center that serves public libraries in Allegheny County and parts of Westmoreland County. The film center offers over 2,000 16mm films and over 1,000 videos all free to the public. The basement of the library is used for the city of Pittsburgh group meeting and recreation rooms for the North Side Senior Center. The Carnegie Hall side of the library building is the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh's resident theater since 1975.
The construction of the library included a memorial to Colonel James Anderson. Colonel Anderson would open his personal library each Saturday to local working boys, when Andrew Carnegie was a child. Anderson's generosity was what inspired Carnegie to establish public libraries throughout the world when he made his fortune. The monument was dismantled during the 1960s urban renewal of the North Side. Ann P Wardrop, a Life Trustee of the Carnegie led the effort to restore the monument which was rededicated on May 15, 1988. The original monument was designed by Daniel Chester French and Francis Bacon who were also responsible for the Lincoln Memorial of Washington DC.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no use restrictions.
Custodial History
The materials were removed from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch and transferred to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room.
Accruals
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch sends new materials to the Oliver Room on an irregular schedule.
Preferred Citation
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch 2, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
