Our History

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Please be aware of continuing construction in limited areas near and in the building.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

Please be aware of continuing construction in limited areas near and in the building.

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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Gisele Fetterman Author Event

Wednesday, September 10 5pm-7pm 

Come hear Gisele Barreto Fetterman discuss her new book Radical Tenderness and get your copy signed! Free tickets required. Get your tickets HERE.

Launch Party! 

Thursday, September 25 6pm-9pm 

Our fundraiser and book launch party celebrating the release of Braddock Carnegie Free Library: The Story of the First Carnegie Library in the United States by Robert Ketcham. Live music, drinks, and light food will be provided. Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased HERE.

Love Your Library Fun Fest

Saturday September 27 12pm-4pm

Fun for all ages at our Fun Fest: tasty food, great tunes, a library scavenger hunt, and an obstacle course for extra fun. Don’t miss this action-packed ending to an amazing month.

 

“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