I love the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Walking in feels more like entering a castle or historic…read morelandmark than a library. The building is beautiful, and every time I visit I notice something new. The staff are always welcoming, friendly, and willing to help, which makes the library feel comfortable and inviting. What I appreciate most is that there are so many activities and events that are free or very low cost. There are plenty of programs for teens, families, and adults, and everyone is welcome. It's definitely worth the drive from the suburbs if you're looking for a unique place to spend a few hours. Between the architecture, the helpful staff, and all the community events, it's one of the coolest libraries I've visited. I wish I would have known about this place when my boys were little, it would be a great stop after visiting the museum.

A beautiful library filled with tons of amazing resources and interesting and unique finds!…read moreOne of the things I loved was that this branch has a music library! I could spend all day just in that section. You can look at (and check out) all sorts of things from musical scores, concert programs, newspaper clippings and more. They even have instruments you can check out! I don't think there is any other library in the area that offers this sort of department. There is something for everyone here (and then some!). I've been here with my kids when they were babies and have taken them here for a variety of programs or even just to stop in when we are in the area. There are plenty of places to relax and enjoy your book (including a cafe) but lots of quiet nooks and seating areas as well. There is no parking lot specific to the library, but there is a ton of metered parking in the area. I highly recommend visiting this library, especially if you are looking for something unique. Or even just to enjoy some quiet time in a beautiful space.

How many libraries that you know of have a ceramics studio, a screen printing studio, a music hall,…read morea gymnasium, a French and Indian War Museum, and a swimming pool? Okay, the pool is drained and hasn't been in use for years--but they're hoping to convert it into a stage space. This library is the first Carnegie library. Like much of Braddock, this building has seen better days, but things are starting to look up again. The ceramics studio in the basement is fully functional, with classes for children and open studio sessions for adults. You can rent the screen printing studio, or RSVP for a spot during Saturdays' open studios. The shop also recently received a letterpress printing machine. I'm not sure if the music hall is always open, or if it's only open for special events and tours, but it is old-fashioned and gorgeous. I think you can peek in at the drained swimming pool during regular library hours; it's on the ground floor near the bathrooms. The actual library stacks here seem quite small in comparison to other libraries, but the library is owned by a not-for-profit organization, and isn't part of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system. There's still a lot that can be done to improve this library, to help everyone really enjoy all of its features. The five stars is for what this library can be in the future; what can I say, I'm an optimist when it comes to this building. Definitely worth a visit, especially when a special event opens up all the different parts of the building.

Beautiful theatre space and awesome staff. Since they're tied into the Allegheny County Library…read moreAssociation, you also have access to every book in the county! This place is classy, like the kind of classy you only find in ancient European cities. The building alone makes you drop your jaw in awe and appreciation. Love it. Use it. Support it!

4.5 stars. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is a public library system that was funded by the…read moreindustrialist Andrew Carnegie in the late 1800s. The library system has about 20 locations throughout the city, including this location in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. My husband and I visited this library once recently. When we entered the library, a security employee kindly greeted us. We walked around the entire library and saw items such as nonfiction books, fiction books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, and more for both adults and children. We also saw information desks, dozens of computers, and desks and chairs. Furthermore, the library's website says that visitors may use Wi-fi, photocopiers and printers (for a fee), scanners, fax machines, and meeting rooms. Overall, we liked this library. This library in Squirrel Hill is not as large as the main library in Oakland, but I think that it is a great place for people of various demographic groups to read, study, relax, or work.

This library is great. I love the seating and events they have. Some seating is right on the window…read moresill which is fun and relaxing.

This is the library I use to pick up my holds. Occasionally, I have met with groups there, and…read moreonce in a blue moon, I'll sit there and read or do some work. It's very convenient, the setting is beautiful, and most of the staff are friendly and helpful.

I'm a bibliophile, so I love all libraries, but Andrew Bayne is my home-base library. The staff is…read morealways so friendly and I enjoy chatting with them while I checkout. The library is in an old home, so it's a bit cramped for space, but they have a good selection, and since they're part of the Allegheny Library System, you can pretty much get anything you want ordered for you. During the summers, they close early on Wednesdays and have a free concert on the porch. I don't know if there's a separate place to review the park, but it's a great space. They just got a grant and renovated the playground, so it's very nice. They also have a skate park which doesn't affect me directly, but I'm pretty sure it's a great space for kids to hang out. What's also great is they started a farmer's market this year. There are all sorts of goodies to get. I'm so glad I live within walking distance.

I've been visiting the USC Library weekly the last few months. They have wonderful children's…read moreprograms (sign up on their website), a playroom, a craft area, and very helpful staff. I highly recommend this library!

Many of the reviews for the library are from before the renovation, so I wanted to add a more…read morerecent review. The library is lovely! So welcoming, engaging, and filled with excellent reading options for all ages. The playroom and classroom space have reopened and many classes take place in the evenings for kids. The seek and find activity is a highlight for my kids. It changes daily and gives families a good reason to go back frequently to pick out new books.

Love this library! They keep getting new audio books that I have interest in. I also can get many…read morebooks and audio books easily from other libraries. Programs they sponsor are very interesting and great for community building and meeting new people. Thank you Staff for you commitment to this wonderful library.

While this library is a wonderful establishment and serves the community of Beaver unceasingly, it…read morehas advanced room for improvement. The building is getting old and needs some rejuvenation. For instance, most of the building is adorned with large glass windows, especially in its center, making it quite hot and uncomfortable to sit for extended periods of time. A few blinds in the library would eliminate this and the facility would be much more comfortable and cooler during the summer months. The internet connection is something that is a lot left to be desired; I have registered complaints about this numerous times to no avail. In the back of the library, the signal is weak! You cannot even watch YouTube videos or listen to a podcast without an interruption eventually occurring. Something simple like installing a router above the ceiling would eliminate weak spots. Just a few of these simplistic improvements would be outstanding. That being all said, the STAFF is amazing, a VAST collection of books, and, specifically, an extraordinary collection of local and Pennsylvania history that few public libraries can match! It's a relaxing place to write, research, and conduct whatever business your intentions instruct you.

The Carnegie libraries of Pittsburgh are amazing no matter which one you go into they all have a…read moregreat vibe to them. The buildings are beautiful and the staff really know their stuff. Thank God, we have this in Pittsburgh

I absolutely love this branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The staff and librarians are…read moreextremely friendly and the historic building has a lot of cool features. Even if you don't live in the West End, it's worth the trip to visit this branch. Ask about the cool murals in the basement, for example. There's a real community feel to this library, you can tell it's an anchor in the West End. There are lots of programs for kids and teens. There are rooms available for community groups, too.

I haven't been in this branch for many, many years, so I was surprised at how nice it had been…read morefixed up and modernized since my last visit. More surprising was the signs in multi-cultural-languages welcoming people of all kinds, to include people new to this country, as there is a whole section devoted to immigrants and foreigners, with books, pamphlets, activity boxes, etc. to help people become American Citizens. Equally impressive was the cool selections of books, magazines, music, movies, video games, and computers for patrons to use, and/or check-out with their library card. The kids section was fantastic, as was the new music choices (I checked out the latest CD album from "Beck"). Another cool feature is the old phone booth, which now serves as a place for you to go inside and talk on your own telephone (changing into your superhero clothing is optional). Cheers to this library, and the historic building it resides in ... Hip hip hooray!

I love this little library!…read more While their selection maybe small you can always request other materials form any of the other Carnegie libraries. I tend to come here if I need to print something out. While computer access is free, you just need a library card, printing cost 25 cents a page. There's also a charming children's section. The staff is wonderful. They are willing to help you and are extremely friendly. If your just looking to spend some time in quant little library this is the perfect spot!