2022 Annual Report - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Our
Library Is…
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
2018–2022 Strategic Plan Highlights
and 2022 Annual Report

Inclusive & Equitable
Responsive & Adaptable
Informative & Empowering
Welcoming & Vibrant
Collaborative & Innovative
Instructive & Enlightening

OUR LIBRARY IS…
Essential for
a Vibrant
Community
and a Thriving
Region
For more than 125 years, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) has advanced and supported
literacy and lifelong learning for everyone in our community.
My fellow Trustees and I are honored and humbled to serve this treasured public trust that was
created for the people of our region. We, like you, are passionate about our mission to engage
our community in literacy and learning, and for the people continues to guide all we do.
In May 2022, we were pleased to welcome Andrew Medlar as our 12 th President & Director,
who joined the team on the cusp of our annual Summer Reading program and hit the ground
running. He has demonstrated his commitment to the mission of the Library, and the Board
of Trustees appreciates his focus on deepening our collaborative partnerships, facilitating
interlibrary-based services to strengthen and support all Allegheny County libraries, and
leading inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility efforts.
Throughout the year we randomly survey library users about their needs and satisfaction with
our services. We’ve learned that more than 90 percent of respondents would recommend our
library system to others. This extremely positive show of support tells us that CLP is offering
services and programs that our community really values. We couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you for everything you do to support Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. It is through your
support and our collective partnerships that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is able to continue
providing people of all ages free and equal access to information and opportunities.
With our sincere gratitude,
Patrick Dowd
Chair, Board of Trustees
2

In 2022, the Library’s five-year strategic plan (2018-2022) came to an end.
While we could write volumes highlighting everything we accomplished
during that time, this report provides a snapshot of the amazing work we
achieved together.
With the worst of the pandemic over by 2022, we were able to expand hours,
services and programming. We restored familiar programs, including storytimes,
Kids Club and Teen Time for youth to enjoy books, crafts and games while
making new friends. We continued our support for families, immigrants,
entrepreneurs, book clubs, seniors, job hunters, students and veterans. We
provided a host of early childhood opportunities, out-of-school learning
programs, online resources — including a curated collection of Pittsburgh’s
vibrant diverse music scene — and specialized services in genealogy, career
development and programming for the nonprofit community.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
Between 2018-2022, we were able to complete renovations of CLP - Carrick,
CLP - Mt. Washington, CLP - Downtown and CLP’s Library of Accessible
Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP). These facilities now offer modern library
features, including the latest technology to help bridge digital divides, and
dedicated spaces for children, teens, independent and small group study, and
community meetings.
We also continued to strengthen our commitment to becoming a fully
inclusive, accessible, anti-racist multicultural organization. Earlier this year,
we were delighted to welcome Dr. Deborah Rogers as our first IDEA (Inclusion,
Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Director who will help align library services,
programs, practices and policies with our mission, vision and IDEA principles.
As we recognize the accomplishments of the last five years, we know that
there is much more to do to ensure that we all have access to a strong and
vibrant library system for years to come, and we already are hard at work
developing our next five-year strategic plan (2024-2028). Having recently
celebrated my first year with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, I want to thank
you for welcoming me into this amazing institution and for your
commitment to our library system. I am grateful for your support as we
navigate the complexities, challenges and opportunities facing the Library.
With your support, we are able to make incredible things happen in service
to our whole community.
Andrew Medlar
President & Director
3

Together
we are creating positive change
and supporting a community that
values innovative, patron-centered
services; welcoming gathering
spaces; curiosity; tolerance; respect
and the acquisition of knowledge.
While we could write volumes about
the work we have accomplished in
the past five years, the following
report highlights some of the ways
we are helping to build a vibrant
community and thriving region.
4

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
5

RESPONSIVE & ADAPTABLE
Carnegie
Library
of Pittsburgh
is officially
fine free!
We know people are busy and sometimes forget to return library items on time.
We never want fines to hold back anyone from using the Library.
We are proud to say that, as of 2022, CLP no longer charges late fees on items borrowed
from or returned to one of our locations, and all existing fines have been automatically
waived from more than 37,000 CLP cardholders’ accounts—of which more than 2,200
were children’s accounts. Becoming a fine free system has allowed many families to feel
more comfortable returning to the Library, some for the first time in many years, and
we have been delighted to welcome them back.
By adopting a fine free model, we are increasing access for everyone in our community.
For years, libraries around the country, and more recently, here in Allegheny County, have
been working to remove barriers to community use in an effort to create more equity in
service. We joined other systems across the country and Allegheny County in officially
going fine free.
Our data shows that our initiative is paying off. More than 1,000 people who had late fees
and an inactive card at the time of forgiveness have been re-engaged with the Library.
That includes hundreds of youth.
We look forward to continue working internally and with our colleagues around the county
on additional ways to remove barriers to library service.
6

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
above
We’re removing barriers
to service by eliminating
late fees.
left
Becoming a fine free system
has allowed many families
to feel more comfortable
returning to the Library.
7

COLLABORATIVE & INNOVATIVE
A New Way
to Use Your
Library Card
One little card, so many possibilities. From books to technology, library cards give
patrons access to a wide variety of services and resources. Now, they are also the ticket
to culture in the city.
With support from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), RAD Pass is Pittsburgh’s
new online ticket lending system that gives Allegheny County library users ages 18+ access
to free or discounted tickets at regional attractions. Currently, 17 partner organizations,
including the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Children’s Museum of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust, Pittsburgh Pirates and many more, are making offers.
Pittsburgh has many wonderful, culturally diverse arts and educational experiences.
Being able to experience the art, culture and history living right in our own backyard has
been a luxury for many in our community. RAD Pass helps make our region’s cultural
resources available and accessible to everyone.
8

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
“Pittsburgh Opera is proud to
be one of CLP’s inaugural
partners in RAD Pass. We hope
that RAD Pass will make it
easier for all Allegheny County
residents to experience the
magic of opera. Library cards
have always opened doors;
with RAD Pass, they now open
our theatre doors too.’”
CHRIS COX,
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS,
PITTSBURGH OPERA
9

INSTRUCTIVE & ENLIGHTENING
Take the
Library
everywhere
you go.
A new mobile app provides quick access
to core services for patrons of all public
libraries in Allegheny County. Patrons are
using the app to access their account, find
convenient links to popular resources
and create a digital library card that can
be used to self-check out items from
participating libraries.
Convenience and functionality are key.
This new app is designed to give patrons
one-stop access to library services while
on the go, at work or from the comfort of
their own home.
10

INFORMATIVE & EMPOWERING
New
Programming
& Services
CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
The Library is a place to learn. Our creative staff are constantly developing
new and exciting programs and services for patrons to develop new skills,
share knowledge and explore interests.
We’ve launched CivicCLP, a series to help our community learn about
the importance of civic engagement and the First Amendment through
Library programs, services and resources. The goal of CivicCLP is for
Pittsburghers to feel more confident about finding reliable information
from trusted sources. People in our communities are given the necessary
tools to engage in civic issues, such as voting, intellectual freedom,
privacy rights and public data.
STACKS, our free streaming ever-growing local music collection, is a
living document of Pittsburgh’s vital, evolving music scene. Using their
library card, patrons can stream and hear sounds from all over this
incredible community of diverse creators. Selected STACKS artists are
not only promoted on the platform, they’re also paid a one-time
stipend for their work.
carnegielibrary.org
WeLearn, a new service in adult programming, was introduced to
develop volunteer-led, nonformal learning circles. Whether it’s the desire to learn a
new language or advance your digital skills, WeLearn programs are meant to be flexible
and to accommodate each participant’s life experience.
Our teen spaces have been expanded and made more visible at all locations with a new
TEENspace brand, and the Recollection Studio opened at CLP – Main as our first do-ityourself
digitization lab.
With so many awesome things happening at CLP on any given day, it’s easy to become
overwhelmed. We know that datebooks and to-do lists fill up weeks in advance, and every
minute of your free time is precious. To combat event fatigue, we introduced a new
seasonal Program Guide in 2022 to help patrons keep track of their favorite book clubs,
storytimes and career development workshop or to discover something new. Mailed to
selected households, the Guide is also available at all neighborhood branches.
PROGRAM GUIDE
Get a head start on planning your personalized Library lineup!
Summer 2023
FREE TO THE PEOPLE
11

COLLABORATIVE & INNOVATIVE
Beethoven
In Your
Neighborhood:
The Library
Project
When Andrew Carnegie dedicated his gift of a library, an art and natural history
museum, and a grand music hall (the first home of the Pittsburgh Symphony
Orchestra)—all in one building—to the people of Pittsburgh, he helped solidify our city
as a cultural hub. He showed that art, music and literature are steadfast companions
that lift the mind and nurture the soul. More than 125 years later, this still holds true.
In 2022, the Library joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Allegheny
County Library Association and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in welcoming
Pittsburghers to explore and enjoy the musical genius of Ludwig van Beethoven
among the beauty of the region’s historic libraries. This ground breaking concert series
paired Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians performing one of Beethoven’s 16
string quartets with one of the original Pittsburgh area library locations commissioned
by Andrew Carnegie.
Each concert provided the audience with interactive experiences facilitated by
music-educator hosts, symphony musicians, and local librarians and historians,
along with the performance.
right
Throughout May and
June 2022, CLP hosted
the internationally
acclaimed Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra
at several locations.
12

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
13

WELCOMING & VIBRANT
below
A completed passport
documenting the patron’s
journey with diligent notes
from each location.
CLP Passport
Challenge:
Let your
Library
adventure
begin!
right
Passport-completers at
CLP - Mt. Washington
celebrate their success
with a limited-edition
CLP Passport T-shirt.
Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods.
During Crash the Carnegies, our
125th anniversary celebration, we
challenged patrons to play tourist
in their community by discovering
our system of neighborhood libraries.
The rules were simple: visit all 19
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
branches and get a special CLP
passport stamped at each one.
By the end of 2022, 150 patrons
completed the Passport Challenge.
14

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
15

INCLUSIVE & EQUITABLE
LBPH is
now LAMP
CLP’s Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped changed its name to Library of
Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP). Pennsylvania residents who are unable to
read standard sized newsprint or who have a physically-based reading disability may be
eligible for services through LAMP. With more than 1.5 million titles in accessible formats
including digital players, curated audiobook cartridges, described movies and braille books,
LAMP helps readers discover new worlds.
LAMP became the Library’s 20th renovation project. The renovation included an
acoustically-secure recording studio area and created public spaces and meeting rooms
where everyone can work comfortably, socialize and enjoy reading for life. In addition, an
updated call and work center allows library professionals to engage with patrons remotely
from across the Commonwealth.
16

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
“LAMP helps print disabled
Pennsylvanians read for life.
We are excited to have a new
name that reflects the many
free services offered to all
Pennsylvanians who have
difficulty accessing standard
print. People with reading
disabilities, age-related visual
disabilities or blindness are
able to enjoy a host of library
services and accessible titles.”
MARK LEE,
LIBRARY SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, LAMP
previous page
Braille supergraphics
spell out the library’s
new name.
left
Library of Accessible
Media for Pennsylvanians
completed substantial
interior and exterior
renovations in 2021.
17

INCLUSIVE & EQUITABLE
Inclusion
Diversity
Equity
Accessibility
IDEA principles (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) have been integral in
our work across the organization for many years. To remove systemic barriers to literacy
and learning, we are committed to changing how historic and current structures of
racism and marginalization directly affect our mission and organizational culture.
For the past five years we have intentionally built an internal framework that contains
a dedicated Board of Trustees IDEA Committee, staff-led Affinity Groups, as well as
a staff EDI Committee to support this important work.
The Library created a newly formed senior level position – Director of Inclusion,
Diversity, Equity and Accessibility – to oversee the development, implementation and
management of strategies to align library services, programs, practices and policies
with our mission, vision and IDEA principles. Dr. Deborah Rogers joined our team in
early 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to grow the Library’s IDEA efforts. She is
also tasked with collaborating with library departments to improve system-wide efforts
in staff recruiting and retention, marketing campaigns and public service programs.
18

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
19

COLLABORATIVE & INNOVATIVE
Realize:
Our Power,
Our Potential
Thanks to generous donors we successfully completed Realize: Our Power, Our Potential,
a comprehensive fundraising campaign designed by the Library to expand and diversify the
Library’s revenue streams. During the eight-year period of 2015-2022, the Library raised
$51.7 million (103 percent of its $50 million goal) to support current priorities and longterm
sustainability. Funds raised for the comprehensive campaign support the Library’s
roles in early literacy; out-of-school learning; workforce and economic development; and
neighborhood vitality. As part of this effort, our Board created a generous matching
initiative to grow our small endowment. To date, 32 new funds have been created.
right
We are creating
destination spaces
that encourage
library use.
20

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
21

THE NEXT CHAPTER: WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON
Imagining a
Transformational
Future
As one strategic plan ends, a new one is just beginning. The year 2023 has been about
information gathering, benchmarking and community conversations across our service
areas. As we synthesize the feedback we receive and develop our next strategic plan, we
are focusing on areas that we would like to expand upon, while keeping our eye on future
opportunities and challenges. We anticipate:
• Continuing to make progress on becoming an
inclusive, diverse and equitable organization.
• Expanding virtual services.
• Deepening our relationship with our colleagues
at the county level to support shared services.
• Exploring the space at CLP – Main to make sure we are
on the forefront of new library services and programming.
As it has done since its founding, the Library is ready to help all people thrive
in a rapidly changing world.
Thank you for championing Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh!
22

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
23

2022 Operating Budget Information
2022
65.0%
13.8%
11.2%
5.2%
2.5%
2.2%
0.1%
OPERATING REVENUES
•
Regional Asset District. ............... $ 22,922,182
City Library Tax. ......................... 4,856,741
Commonwealth of PA .................... 3,967,859
Fundraising (Annual). .................... 1,835,949
Table Games. ............................ 883,585
Earned Income. .......................... 784,856
City of Pittsburgh. ........................ 40,000
TOTAL REVENUES. .................. $ 35,291,172
2022
58.9%
14.2%
9.8%
3.8%
3.0%
2.9%
2.8%
2.6%
2.0%
EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT (ERC). ... $ 124,300*
OPERATING EXPENSES
•
Salaries and Benefits. ............... $ 20,862,592
Library Materials. ....................... 5,006,678
Facility Related. ........................ 3,475,274
Supplies & Professional Services. ...........1,341,632
IT & Electronic Services ................... 1,074,321
Fund Balance. ...........................1,025,516
Debt Service. .............................996,125
Utilities. ................................ 925,248
Fundraising & Communication. ............. 708,086
TOTAL EXPENSES. .................. $ 35,415,472
*The Employee Retention Credit reflects funding received from the IRS in the 2022 budget year.
This is a non-recurring revenue source.
24

2022 Fundraising Revenues by Source & Purpose
Unrestricted
Operating
(Operating Budget)
Restricted
Operating
Capital
Endowment
Library of Accessible
Media for
Pennsylvanians
Grand
Totals
Individuals
$ 663,855
$ 13,872
$ 583
$ 154,707
$ 52,052
$ 885,069
Bequests
37,893
60,000
—
—
—
97,893
Corporations
538,279
166,112
—
—
15
704,406
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2022
Foundations
Groups and
Organizations
Trusts
Competitive
Government
Grants
560,502
35,420
—
$ 1,835,949
$ 239,740
326,461
512,038
38,412
$ 1,116,895
$ 119,804
276,001
—
—
$ 276,584
$ 1,500,000
47,435
—
—
$ 202,142
—
22,600
910
50,000
$ 125,577
—
1,232,999
548,368
88,412
$ 3,557,147
$ 1,859,544
Employee
Retention
Credit
$ 124,300
$ 124,300
This report reflects private philanthropic revenues received in 2022, as well as revenue from competitive
government grant programs to support essential services that the Library provides.
25

Board of Trustees
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022
LIFE TRUSTEES
(serve until age 75 and are self-perpetuating
as a class as required by the original trust agreement
between Andrew Carnegie and the City of Pittsburgh)
Carolyn Hess Abraham
State Senator Jay Costa, Jr.
Patrick Dowd, Chair
Lafe Metz, Vice Chair
Carol Robinson
Patricia L. Siger
LaShawnda Thomas, Vice Chair
Greg A. Zovko
TERM TRUSTEES
(serve up to two three-year terms and
are broadly representative of the community)
Joel Bernard
Molly Brean
Marc Brown
Kenyokee Crowell
Trisha Gadson
Jim Galitsis
Frances Jordan
Susan Kirsch, Treasurer
Jeremy Kubica
Ebońe Lockyer
State Representative Dan Miller
Laura Miller
PUBLIC TRUSTEES
(represent the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny
County and Pittsburgh School District as required
by the original trust agreement between Andrew
Carnegie and the City of Pittsburgh)
County Councilperson Sam DeMarco III
City Councilperson Deb Gross
County Councilperson Bethany Hallam
City Councilperson Theresa Kail-Smith
City Councilperson Bruce Kraus, Secretary
Barbara Logan,
Appointed by Allegheny County Executive
Alice Mitinger,
Appointed by Allegheny County Executive
Jake Pawlak,
Appointed by City of Pittsburgh Mayor
City Councilperson Erika Strassburger
Sylvia Wilson,
Appointed by President of
Pittsburgh Public School Board
TRUSTEE EMERITI
Frank J. Lucchino
Betsy Watkins
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Andrew McEvoy
LIBRARY PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
Andrew Medlar (appointed May 31, 2022)
Huma Mohiuddin
Carolyn (Cary) B. Reed
Kenneth Spruill, Jr.
Gia Tatone
Lou Testoni
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees
meets five times a year. Learn about our board
members and read the latest meeting minutes at
carnegielibrary.org/clp-board.

carnegielibrary.org