NEWS RELEASE

 

 

For immediate release: 2007 December 9

For more information –

     David Tessitor – Telephone: 412-343-6178; Electronic Mail: < dave@tessitor.com >

     Glenn A. Walsh – Telephone: 412-561-7876; Electronic Mail:  < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >

Internet Web Site: < http://alleghenyregional.carnegielibrary.us >

 

Fate of 1st Carnegie Library to be Debated at North Side

Neighborhood Public Hearing, Sponsored by City Council,

Tue., Dec. 18, 5 p.m. at New Hazlett Theater, North Side

                               

Pittsburgh, Dec. 9 – The fate of the Allegheny Regional Branch of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, America’s first publicly-funded Carnegie Library, will be debated at a public hearing, sponsored by Pittsburgh City Council, on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. in the New Hazlett Theater at 5 Allegheny Square on the North Side. The New Hazlett Theater adjoins the Allegheny Regional Library building, in the world’s first Carnegie Hall. All citizens are eligible to speak on this issue, but pre-registration to speak is requested by telephoning the City Clerk’s Office at 412-255-2138.

 

The Allegheny Regional Library has been closed since April 7, 2006 when a lightning strike hit the Library’s historic clock tower with debris falling through the roof into the building. After the expenditure of about $2 million of insurance money, the building was repaired this-past May. However, the Library remains closed.

 

In August of 2006, Carnegie Library announced plans to build a new library structure on the North Side, three blocks north of the Allegheny Regional Library. However, failure to complete fundraising for the new building forced a postponement of the new building’s groundbreaking, which had been scheduled for early Autumn of 2007.

 

Upon learning of the City’s possible sale of property to Carnegie Library for this new building (Bill No. 2007-1965), citizens petitioned City Council for a public hearing to discuss whether there is a real necessity to build a new library building, when the historic Allegheny Regional Library has been repaired and can again serve the North Side as a public library.

 

All citizens are urged to attend, and pre-register to speak, at this public hearing. More information can found on this new web site: < http://alleghenyregional.carnegielibrary.us >.

 

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