BGuthrie Photos: PA -- Pittsburgh -- Carnegie Public Library (Allegheny Regional)

PA -- Pittsburgh -- Carnegie Public Library (Allegheny Regional):

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Description of Pictures: The library was closed due to damage from a lightning strike. It sounded a bit like the plot to "Back to the Future" but the following is from http://www.carnegielibrary.org/about/pressroom/2006/allegheny083106.html

Repairs to Begin on Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Allegheny Regional
Press Contact: Suzanne M. Thinnes
Communications Manager
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 412-578-2458
412-688-8609 (fax)
412-491-6889 (cell)
For Immediate Release

(PITTSBURGH, PA - August 31, 2006) The City of Pittsburgh has approved a plan that will repair the damage to the building housing Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Allegheny Regional. The building, located at 5 Allegheny Square, has been closed since April 7, 2006 after a lightning strike caused part of the facility's clock tower to explode sending large debris into the building's roof and clock tower structure.

As owner of the building, the city is working with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) to ensure that all essential repairs to the roof and HVAC system are made. As one of three tenants in the building, CLP was required to insure the building, and it is the Library's insurance that will cover the multimillion dollar repair cost. Work is slated to begin sometime this fall. The building's additional two tenants, the Hazlett Theatre and a senior center operated by the City of Pittsburgh, will not be affected by the repairs and will continue regular operations.

The city and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh have also agreed that the building does not currently meet the needs of a modern neighborhood library and that this is a good opportunity for the Library to seek alternate space in the same neighborhood.

Originally constructed in 1890, the four story building is an historic landmark. The City of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh recognize the value of the historic nature of the building and want to see a reuse for the facility. The city is currently working with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to find a tenant that will fully utilize the building's historic capacity.

"We understand the decision and are cooperating with the City of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh in trying to assess how the building might attract good new uses," said Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr., President, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. "Landmarks is underwriting preliminary architecture and engineering studies to assist in finding appropriate solutions. Landmarks also provided the leading studies for other Allegheny Center buildings, the Old Post Office and Buhl Planetarium, which are now successfully reused."

Statement from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) is anxious to restore library service to the customers of CLP-Allegheny Regional. After a severe lightning strike on April 7 caused Library officials to close the building due to safety concerns, CLP enlisted the assistance of the community to help identify interim sites. While Library officials have looked at many possible interim locations on the North Side, the Library is concerned about the significant cost and time that would be required to retrofit a space that still would not be ideal for offering the best library service.

CLP has come to the conclusion that a new facility is needed in order to restore full library service. For that reason, the Library has elevated CLP - Allegheny Regional to be one of the next priorities in its Capital Improvements Program. Currently CLP is in the midst of a system-wide renewal to make its neighborhood library locations throughout the City of Pittsburgh accessible and contemporary. To date, six neighborhood locations have been either renovated or relocated, and the first floor of the Main Library in Oakland has been renovated. The visibility of the renewed library buildings has brought new vitality to the libraries and their communities, with all locations benefiting from increased visitor and circulation numbers.

The Library remains committed to library services on the North Side and is working closely with a variety of sources, including local community organizations and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to help identify a site for a new permanent facility. Library officials have looked at several locations and expedited the reopening of CLP - Woods Run in order to restore services.

A 16,500 square foot lot at 1210 Federal Street has been identified by the URA as one available space for a new freestanding library. Located on a corner not far from the current CLP-Allegheny Regional building, the lot is situated in an area poised for potential development. CLP will need to do further research to ensure the space is acceptable, but is prepared to submit a proposal to the URA to begin the process. The idea of a new freestanding library has earned the support of many community groups who are eager for businesses and neighborhoods to have the opportunity to gain the full effect of the Library's economic impact that has been demonstrated in other Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

"Libraries are key annuities in neighborhoods," said Mark T. Fatla, Executive Director, North Side Leadership Conference. "We not only wanted to keep the library an active part of the North Side, but we expressed a need to grow the library and its services. I am pleased the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system shares the same belief. To the Library's credit, the administration came to us at the very beginning, met with the community leadership and has been very upfront in meeting the concerns of the existing building and the needs of the new structure."

Originally constructed in 1890 as a main library to Allegheny City, Allegheny Regional has become landlocked over time and technologically outdated. The interior of Allegheny Regional was extensively renovated by the City of Pittsburgh in the early 1970s. As one of three tenants in the building, the Library was using approximately 12,000 square feet for public service. Currently, Hazlett Theatre and a senior center operated by the City of Pittsburgh also share a portion of the building. Library officials recognize the value of the historic nature of the building and realize that it is better suited for another purpose. The library applauds the city for its efforts with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to find a proper reuse for the building.

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[1] CARLAR_070827_05.JPG	[2] CARLAR_070827_07.JPG	[3] CARLAR_070827_16.JPG
[4] CARLAR_070827_19.JPG	[5] CARLAR_070827_23.JPG	[6] CARLAR_070827_26.JPG
[7] CARLAR_070827_27.JPG	[8] CARLAR_070827_31.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. CARLAR_070827_26.JPG: By the steps, you can see pieces from the collapse in the 2006 lightning strike.
Description of Subject Matter: First Free Public Library Building in the United States.
Donated by Andrew Carnegie
Supported by Public Funds
Completed in 1890

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Allegheny Regional has been a landmark on the Northside since it was dedicated by President Benjamin Harrison on February 20, 1890. Working as a bobbin boy in an Allegheny City cotton mill, Andrew Carnegie was befriended by Colonel James Anderson, who opened his private library for public use. This generosity so influenced the young Carnegie that he resolved to devote his wealth to the same purpose.

Built in what was formerly the City of Allegheny, The Carnegie Free Library (as it was originally called), became the model for the thousands of publicly funded Carnegie libraries across the country. Carnegie once said, "Allegheny was my first love," and it was here that he offered $250,000 to build a library on the condition that it would be municipally supported. The City of Allegheny accepted Mr. Carnegie's offer in 1886. The building eventually cost $300,000 and in 1915 Mr. Carnegie gave an additional $150,000 for its enlargement. The building also housed a music hall with seating for 1,100 people. The architects were Smithmeyer and Pelz of Washington, D.C., who had completed the Library Congress in 1889.

In 1956, the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny merged with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to become the Allegheny Regional Branch Library. In 1967, plans were drawn for remodeling and library operations were moved to rented quarters in Allegheny Center Mall. The interior renovation and exterior cleaning of the massive granite structure took seven years, and on May 19, 1974, the first free Carnegie public library supported by public funds reopened its doors. Since its original construction in 1889, the library has been renovated several times, in 1897, 1905 and 1958. Additions were constructed in 1901 and 1906.

NOTE: Above text excerpted from the 1990 brochure The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch, Celebrates Its 100th Aniversary Year.

...

Col. James Anderson Monument:

In 1904 Andrew Carnegie commissioned architect Henry Bacon and sculptor Daniel Chester French, who collaborated on the Lincoln Memorial, to create a memorial to Colonel James Anderson. It was Anderson's generosity that inspired Andrew Carnegie to establish public libraries throughout the world. When Carnegie was a bobbin boy in a Pittsburgh factory, Colonel Anderson opened his personal library each Saturday to local "working boys."

The monument includes a bronze bust of Anderson, the figure of "Labor," a shirtless young workman seated on an anvil, and a large exedra (an elliptical granite bench). It was dismantled during the 1960's urban renewal of the Northside.

Ann P. Wardrop, a Life Trustee of The Carnegie, led the effort to restore the monument. The reconstruction, using the same kind of pink granite Henry Bacon used in 1904, cost in excess of $300,000. The memorial was rededicated May 15, 1988.

NOTE: Above text from the 1990 brochure The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Regional Branch, Celebrates Its 100th Aniversary Year.
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