Squirrel Hill Branch
🏢 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Squirrel Hill Branch
Anchored at the corner of Forbes and Murray in the heart of Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood since 1972, this branch is wrapped in distinctive copper cladding from its award-winning 2005 renovation and offers four reading nooks carved into the exterior wall, an enclosed community garden, and evening hours four nights a week.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 10am–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 5801 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Phone: (412) 422-9650
Website: carnegielibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G2C3QG+9W (Pittsburgh, PA)
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📖 About Squirrel Hill Branch
The Squirrel Hill Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has served the neighborhood's culturally rich, densely residential community since its dedication on December 13, 1972. The original $1.5 million building, planned as early as 1967, introduced a parking level beneath the library, street-side commercial space, a gallery area, and meeting rooms — a compact urban design suited to one of Pittsburgh's busiest commercial intersections at Forbes and Murray Avenues. In February 2004 the branch closed for a $4.4 million renovation designed by Front Studio Architects; it reopened in 2005 with a 7,000-square-foot addition, bringing the total to roughly 18,000 square feet. The renovation transformed the original limestone exterior with two prominent copper-clad facades — a material choice that earned a 2007 AIA Pittsburgh Design Honor Award and references the region's industrial heritage. Inside, the loft-style open floor plan overlooks the neighborhood's commercial heart and features four reading nooks set into the exterior wall and a lovely enclosed garden courtyard. Squirrel Hill is Pittsburgh's historic Jewish-American cultural center, and the branch reflects that diversity through multilingual materials, community programming, and one of CLP's most heavily used children's departments, with dedicated desktop and laptop computers for young patrons.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Copper-clad 2005 renovation by Front Studio Architects — a $4.4 million, 18,000 sf loft-style rebuild that earned the 2007 AIA Pittsburgh Design Honor Award
- Four built-in reading nooks carved into the exterior wall, offering quiet street-level perches overlooking the Forbes & Murray business district
- Enclosed community garden courtyard — a sheltered outdoor gathering space unique among Pittsburgh CLP branches
- Dedicated children's department with nine computers plus tables, toys and hands-on activities for young visitors
- Open seven days a week with four late evenings (Mon–Thu until 8 p.m.) at one of Pittsburgh's most-used neighborhood library sites
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
All Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh cardholders can access these free digital resources:
📚 Services
- Enclosed community garden courtyard for public use
- Four built-in exterior reading nooks
- 30 adult public computers + 17 laptops; 9 dedicated children's computers
- Meeting rooms for community groups and organizations
- Free Wi-Fi and wireless printing on site
- After-hours exterior book return
- Access to full CLP system shared catalog — one card borrows at all CLP branches
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and early-literacy programs
- Teen programs and STEM activities
- Book discussion groups
- Language and adult-learning programs
- Community events for all ages
📍 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
When did the Squirrel Hill Branch open, and why does the building look so different from a typical Carnegie library?
The Squirrel Hill Branch opened on December 13, 1972 — not as an original Andrew Carnegie gift building, but as a mid-century modern facility planned from 1967 to serve the neighborhood's dense urban footprint. It bears no resemblance to the ornate Beaux-Arts Carnegie originals because it was purpose-built for a commercial corner, with a parking level and retail space beneath the library. The dramatic copper cladding that defines the branch today came with the 2005 renovation by Front Studio Architects, which added 7,000 square feet and earned a 2007 AIA Pittsburgh Design Honor Award.
Is the Squirrel Hill Branch open on Sundays, and what are the full weekly hours?
Yes — the branch is open seven days a week. Monday through Thursday it stays open until 8 p.m. (10 a.m.–8 p.m.), and Friday, Saturday and Sunday it runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. An exterior book return is available 24 hours a day for after-hours drop-offs. Hours can change for holidays; check carnegielibrary.org or call (412) 422-9650 to confirm.
What is the enclosed garden at the Squirrel Hill Branch?
The 2005 renovation by Front Studio incorporated a sheltered outdoor courtyard — an enclosed garden space where visitors can sit and read or gather away from the busy Forbes and Murray intersection. It is one of the few outdoor seating areas in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system and is accessible from inside the building during library hours.
Can I reserve a meeting room at the Squirrel Hill Branch, and how do I book it?
Yes — the Squirrel Hill Branch has meeting room space available for community groups and organizations. Rooms can be reserved through Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's online booking system at carnegielibrary.libcal.com/reserve/spaces/squirrelhill, or by contacting the branch directly at (412) 422-9650. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's standard room-use policy applies.
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