Our History

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

Please be aware when parking that there is street sweeping on Library Street on the 4th Monday and 4th Tuesday of each month.

SEARCH THE CATALOG

Exclamation Mark (150 × 150 px) (1)

Please be aware when parking that there is street sweeping on Library Street on the 4th Monday and 4th Tuesday of each month.

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...

Braddock Community Day
Saturday, August 8, 12-6pm
Braddock Ave | Braddock, PA 15104

Braddock's annual community celebration will feature food, music, and information and activities from Braddock (and other nearby) organizations and businesses.

Please stop by our table when you come and enjoy the afternoon!

All ages welcome.

“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