Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Woods Run Branch 2, 1964 - 2012 2002 - 2006

Arrangement

Language
English
Repository
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Title
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Woods Run Branch 2
creator
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Collection Number
CLP.20180822.001
Extent
10 Boxes
Date
1964-2012
Date
2002-2006
Author
Sarah E. Reedy, Joseph Salvador & Greg Priore
Publisher
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Archives and Special Collections
Address
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
info@carnegielibrary.org
URL: http://www.carnegielibrary.org/

Content Description

The Woods Run Collection consists of sixteen (16) series spanning the years 1964 to 2012. The majority of the collection is composed of materials documenting the 2002 to 2006 Renovation of the Woods Run Library. These materials include administrative documents, flyers, newspapers, newsletters, questionnaires, meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, floor plans, certificates, information of architects, and visitor information.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged for the most part according to chronological and subject order within each series.

Biographical / Historical

In October, 1956, the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny and it Woods Run Branch, originally established in 1890 and 1916 respectively, merged with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to form a single city-wide library system. The Woods Run serves the Pittsburgh North Side communities of Woods Run, Brighton Heights, and Marshall-Shadeland as well as the county residents of Bellevue, Avalon, Emsworth, West View, McKees Rocks, and the nearby townships of Ross and Reserve. The original library building was in extremely poor condition at the time of the merger and was closed in 1961 due to physical deterioration, after construction of a new building was approved. In 1958, the Branch Librarian conducted community surveys and found a "definite need of an adequate Branch building," but also commented on the area surrounding the library, describing a community divided over ethnic, economic, and social concerns. Though proposals were made calling for moving the Branch to a better neighborhood, they were not met and ground was broken in 1963 and the new site opened on July 8, 1964 at its new location at 1201 Woods Run Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15212.

From its establishment, the library was the target of vandalism, which was generally contributed to the "negative connotation" of the Woods Run area. In 1985 the Friends of Woods Run Library, a local volunteer group, even suggested changing the name of the library to give it a better image. That plan did not come to fruition, but in 2006, renovations were completed with the twofold goal to make the library more environmentally friendly and to "connect the building to the neighborhood." The brick walls of the front of the building were replaced with windows, which provide "views into and out of the library, was a big step in that direction, encouraging patrons to feel part of the neighborhood and that they have a stake in what goes on there."

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions.

Custodial History

Most materials were moved from the Woods Run Branch to the William R. Oliver Special Collections Room in 2012.

Preferred Citation

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Woods Run Branch 2, William R. Oliver Special Collections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Container List