Our History

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For the most up-to-date information about possible weather delays or closures of our locations and services, please see our Facebook or Instagram page.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

For the most up-to-date information about possible weather delays or closures of our locations and services, please see our Facebook or Instagram page.

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...

polka swap

Holiday Book Swap
Wednesday, December 4 4:30pm-6:30pm | Greater Valley Community Services 400 Holland Ave Braddock, PA 15104

 

We are hosting another book swap! Children and youth can bring a book they no longer want to swap for a new (to them) book. No one will be turned away without a book!

To provide all youth with a book, we are collecting K-12 book donations at 526 Braddock Ave until December 2nd so please give!

 

 

“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