Public Libraries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania — United States
Public Libraries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Home of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh — "Free to the People" since 1895 — plus the Mt. Lebanon Public Library.
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Libraries
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Branches
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh — Andrew Carnegie's flagship library system — serves the city through its grand 1895 Main Library in Oakland and a network of neighborhood branches, several of them among the earliest Carnegie libraries in the country. Explore individual locations for real hours, addresses, and what makes each one distinctive:
Libraries in Pittsburgh
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh — Main (Oakland)
📍 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
📞 412-622-3114 · 🕑 Mon–Thu 10–8, Fri–Sat 10–5:30, Sun 12–5
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
📍 16 Castle Shannon Boulevard, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
📞 412-531-1912 · 🕑 Mon–Thu 9–9, Fri–Sat 9–5, Sun 1–5
The Story of the Library in Pittsburgh
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Main library opened in the Oakland neighborhood in 1895, dedicated by Andrew Carnegie himself on November 5 of that year. While Carnegie had already funded a library in nearby Braddock in 1889 (built primarily for steelworkers), the Oakland building was his original library gift to the City of Pittsburgh and became the flagship of the city's free public library system. Carved into the sandstone above the main entrance is the library's enduring motto, "Free to the People" — a declaration that its collections could be used by anyone, without a fee or membership.
Today the Main (Oakland) library remains the full-service hub of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, serving city, Allegheny County, and state residents. In the suburbs, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library operates as an independent member of the Allegheny County Library Association, so a single ACLA card lets residents borrow across the county's participating libraries.
About Public Libraries in Pittsburgh
Public library service in Pittsburgh is anchored by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP), the city system founded by Andrew Carnegie, whose Main library in Oakland has served the community since 1895. The nearby Mt. Lebanon Public Library is a member of the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), the network that links independent public libraries across the county. Any Pennsylvania resident can get a free library card from their local library, which unlocks physical collections, eBooks and audiobooks, research databases, and — through ACLA and statewide catalogs — borrowing across participating libraries.
POWER Library is Pennsylvania's statewide online library, funded by the Commonwealth and administered through the State Library of Pennsylvania. With a local library card or a free POWER Library eCard, any Pennsylvania resident can use its e-resources at no cost — including dozens of research databases, newspapers, magazines, e-books, and a 24/7 chat reference service — from home or on the go.
📚 What You Can Access
- 📚 Books, DVDs, and physical collections at every branch
- 📱 eBooks and audiobooks through Libby/OverDrive
- 🎬 Streaming movies, music, and shows via library apps
- 🔎 POWER Library — free statewide databases and research tools
- 🖨️ Public computers, printing, and copying
- 📶 Free Wi-Fi and study space
- 🧒 Children’s, teen, and family programs
🏛️ Quick Facts
| Libraries | 2 (Carnegie Library Main + Mt. Lebanon Public Library) |
| Systems | Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) |
| Main library | 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 |
| Phone | 412-622-3114 (Main / Oakland) |
| Opened | 1895 (Carnegie Library Main, Oakland) |
| Library card | Free to Pennsylvania residents |
| State resource | POWER Library |
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Frequently Asked Questions