National Preservation Glenn A. Walsh

Conference 2006, P.O. Box 1041

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.

Telephone: 412-561-7876

Carnegie Libraries: Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >

Challenges and Internet Web Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >

Solutions 2006 November 3

Brief Biography of Speaker: Glenn A. Walsh

A 1978 Journalism graduate from the University of Kentucky, Mr. Walsh is a free-lance writer and web page designer living in Pittsburgh and serves as Project Director of a new non-profit organization, Friends of the Zeiss, which promotes the preservation and functionality of historic equipment and artifacts from Pittsburgh’s original Buhl Planetarium. He has nearly 20 years of professional experience in the planetarium, museum, and public library fields, most of them with Carnegie Museums and Carnegie Libraries in the Pittsburgh region.

He served five years in the late 1990s as a Life Trustee for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in the Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie Borough, including one year as the Library’s Treasurer. A noted authority on the life of Andrew Carnegie and the history of the libraries and museums he founded, Mr. Walsh was the consulting editor of the Cobblestone national history magazine for children, for the April, 1999 issue dedicated to the life and philanthropies of Andrew Carnegie, and he maintains a web site on that history at < www.andrewcarnegie.cc >.

Mr. Walsh will be speaking on politics and grass-roots preservation efforts.

Outline of Address

Primary Impediments to Historic Preservation: EGO and MONEY !

I. Ego

A. Institution Administrators

B. Politicians

II. Money

A. Real Estate Developers/Speculators

B. Consultants, Architects, Contractors

C. Politicians & So-called “Economic Development” (Real Estate Speculation)

III. Case Studies: Original Carnegie Libraries

A. Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, Carnegie PA

1. Origin & Endowment

2. RAD Funding & Lawsuit Against Library by Borough

3. Chartiers Valley Partnership & Amending Trust Agreement

4. ACLA & Discarding of Nearly Half of Collection

B. Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny PA

1. Origin

2. Urban Renewal in 1970s

3. Lightning Strike and Abandonment: 2006

C. Original Neighborhood Branches: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

1. Hazelwood – Abandoned 2004

2. Lawrenceville

3. Mount Washington

4. Homewood – One token (“Taj Mahal”) rehab project

5. Also – Library Center, Downtown, with Point Park University

6. New Library Leases with City & Hidden Sales Option

D. Carnegie Free Libraries in Braddock, Homestead, and Duquesne PA

1. Origins

2. $1 Million Endowment for three libraries

3. “Sell-off” of Braddock & Duquesne Libraries – 1968

4. Closure of USS Homestead Works & Transfer of Endowment

5. ACLA & Risk to Carnegie Free Library of Braddock

IV. Summation and Solutions

A. Summation of Problem

B. Solutions

1. Educating the Public of Value of Historic Preservation;

Preservation = Conservation of Community Wealth

2. Organizing Public Involvement in Neighborhood Carnegie Library;

Make Politicians and Library Administrators Aware of True Neighborhood

Opposition to Any Anti-Preservation Proposals

3. “Modernization” Should Be Restricted to Library Offerings and Programs

Which Would Truly Benefit the Public --

NOT Brick-and-Mortar Projects in the Guise of “Modernization,” Unless

It is a True Expansion Project with Minimal Effect on Historic Facilities