Lawrenceville Branch
🏢 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Lawrenceville Branch
Opened in 1898 on the grounds of Lawrenceville's historic burying ground, CLP – Lawrenceville was the first Carnegie-funded neighborhood branch in Pittsburgh and the sixth Carnegie library in America — still serving the community from its landmark Alden & Harlow building on Fisk Street.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 279 Fisk Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Phone: (412) 682-3668
Website: carnegielibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G2F29R+29 (Pittsburgh, PA)
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📖 About Lawrenceville Branch
The Lawrenceville Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh opened on May 10, 1898, making it the first neighborhood branch library Andrew Carnegie funded in Pittsburgh and the sixth Carnegie-funded library in the country. Designed by the prominent Pittsburgh firm Alden & Harlow — the same architects behind the Carnegie Institute in Oakland and several other CLP branches — the building was constructed on land donated by the local school board, land that had previously served as Lawrenceville's early-19th-century burying ground. During a 2002 renovation, workers discovered a headstone in the library's basement belonging to Henry Snowden, an infant who died in 1830; the stone remains on display in the branch today. The library pioneered open, self-service stacks at a time when most libraries kept collections behind closed doors, and it established one of the earliest dedicated children's rooms in any American public library. Recognized as a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark since 1988 and added to the city's historic designations list in 2004, the branch is also part of the Lawrenceville Historic District, and its Carnegie-era interior — reading rooms, original stack fixtures — has been thoughtfully preserved through the decades.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Oldest neighborhood branch in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system, opened May 1898 — the sixth Carnegie library in America
- Pioneered open, self-service shelving and one of the earliest dedicated children's rooms in U.S. public library history
- Built on Lawrenceville's early cemetery; a 19th-century headstone (Henry Snowden, d. 1830) discovered in 2002 is still displayed in the branch
- Designated a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark (1988) and part of the city-recognized Lawrenceville Historic District
- Open three evenings per week (Tuesday–Thursday until 8pm), serving the fast-growing Lawrenceville neighborhood
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pittsburgh cardholders can stream, download and research free through Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Physical collection: books, large-print titles, audiobooks, DVDs and magazines
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying services
- Meeting and study space
- Interlibrary loan through the ACL consortium — borrow from any Allegheny County library
- Library of Things items available through the CLP catalog
- Notary and community services (check branch for availability)
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and early-literacy programs
- After-school homework and reading support
- Summer reading challenge for all ages
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult programming including book discussions and skill-building workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in Pittsburgh / Allegheny County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Pittsburgh · Browse all Pennsylvania libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a 19th-century headstone inside the Lawrenceville Branch?
The library was built in 1898 on land that had served as Lawrenceville's early burying ground in the 1800s. During a 2002 renovation, workers found a headstone in the basement belonging to Henry Snowden, an infant who died in 1830. Rather than remove it, the library kept the stone on display as a tangible piece of Lawrenceville's history — a reminder of the neighborhood's origins beneath the building.
What makes CLP Lawrenceville historically significant beyond being old?
Lawrenceville was the first neighborhood branch Andrew Carnegie funded in Pittsburgh and the sixth Carnegie library in America overall, opening May 10, 1898. It introduced two ideas that spread across American librarianship: open, self-service shelving (instead of fetching books through a librarian) and one of the earliest dedicated children's rooms in any U.S. public library. The Alden & Harlow building has been a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark since 1988.
Which evenings is the Lawrenceville Branch open late?
The branch stays open until 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Monday, Friday and Saturday hours run 10am–5pm, and the library is closed on Sunday.
Can I borrow from other Allegheny County libraries with my CLP card?
Yes. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh participates in the Allegheny County Libraries (ACL) consortium through the shared BiblioCommons catalog at acl.bibliocommons.com. A single CLP card lets you borrow physical and digital items from CLP branches and partner Allegheny County libraries, and request interlibrary delivery to the branch most convenient for you.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
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