Andrew Carnegie Free Library
The Andrew Carnegie Free Library is an institution which includes a Free
Public Library, 788-seat Music Hall, 140-seat Lecture Hall, Civil War
Museum(Espy Post, G.A.R.), Discount Book Store, small in-town public
park, and a dance studio(former gymnasium leased to the Carnegie
Performing Arts Center - non-profit dance and drama school; dance
studio located on the Lower Level of the Andrew Carnegie Free
Library building). Andrew Carnegie granted $200,000 for the construction
of a Library in Carnegie, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1898. The
institution was legally formed on April 20. 1899, when Andrew Carnegie
executed a Declaration of Trust agreement, which is enforced by the
Allegheny County Orphan's Court. The Library By-Laws were first
established on April 9, 1900, and they were significantly amended during the
Special Meetings of July 5, 1995 and September
18, 1995; the By-Law changes were approved at the September meeting as
part of the settlement of a legal action brought against the Life
Trustees of the Library by the Borough of Carnegie. Other
amendments
were adopted on March 17, 1997 and on
January 5, 1998. The Andrew Carnegie Free Library
opened
to the public on May 1, 1901. The first performance in the Music Hall,
by the Carnegie Men's Glee Club, occurred on May 10, 1901. Andrew
Carnegie dedicated the institution on April 22, 1902.(See also History of Library and Music Hall).
The Declaration of Trust agreement arranged for the institution and
property to be held in-trust for the people of Carnegie, Pennsylvania and
managed by a seventeen-member Board of Trustees. Ten of these Board
members were designated
"Life Trustees," and the "Life Board" is
self-perpetuating. The other seven Board members are "Ex-Officio
Trustees" and consist of the Mayor and six Councilmen of the Borough of
Carnegie. Unlike the Ex-Officio Trustees on many Boards, the Ex-Officio
Trustees on the Andrew Carnegie Free Library Board of Trustees were given
full management responsibilities regarding the Trust, by Andrew Carnegie,
and they have a vote on all Board matters.
Funding for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library is provided by:
* The Borough of Carnegie, through an annual appropriation of the Borough
Council;
* The Allegheny Regional
Asset District,
from the one percent sales and use tax levied in Allegheny
County;
* The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
through an annual appropriation from Commonwealth
Libraries;
* AND the generous donations given by individuals, non-profit
organizations, and businesses,
in Carnegie and the Chartiers Valley.
Meetings of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library Board of Trustees
Annual Meeting in March of each year -
Third Tuesday of March, 7:00 p.m. Prevailing Time(19:00 Eastern Time)
Monthly Meetings -
Third Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. Prevailing Time(19:00
Eastern Time)
Location - Andrew Carnegie Free Library
All meetings of the Board of Trustees(except Executive Sessions) are open
to the public.
Previously included at the end of the meeting agenda, a public comment
period is now included at the
beginning of the meeting agenda, per the December 14, 1998
implementation of an amendment to the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.
Board of Trustees
Officers