Our History

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

419 Library Street will reopen to the public for library services on Friday, May 23 at noon. We will then resume our regular Monday-Friday hours the following week.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

419 Library Street will reopen to the public for library services on Friday, May 23 at noon. We will then resume our regular Monday-Friday hours the following week.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

We Forge Our Own History

Welcome to the home of the first Carnegie library in the United States! Established in 1889 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, the library stands as a testament to Andrew Carnegie's vision of providing access to knowledge and resources for all.

Braddock Carnegie Library Timeline

Where Our Story Begins…

Situated in the very town where Carnegie's inaugural steel mill operated, the Braddock Carnegie Library embodies the opulence of the nineteenth-century industrial boom. Its architectural style and intricate details reflect the prosperity of the era. Over time, the building has not only retained its beauty but has also borne witness to the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and public institutions. As the community endured industrial decline and population loss, the library, too, bore the scars of neglect.

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What’s coming up...

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Grand Reopening

Thursday, May 22 11am-4:30pm | 419 Library Street Braddock, PA 15104

We will be celebrating our Grand Reopening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and open house. Everyone is invited!

The celebration will include the opportunity for the public to explore our renovations with activities throughout the building. There will also be special musical performances in our historic music hall. Stop by or stay for the afternoon--the fun will continue until 4:30pm.

“This building was built to last…for generations to come…a center of light & learning, a never-failing spring of all good influences.”

— Andrew Carnegie, March 30, 1889 Dedication of Braddock Carnegie Library