South Side library celebrates rebirth
Story By Megan Guza
Photos By Kelly Cline
Point Park News Service
After over 100 years, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on East Carson Street finally has something new to brag about.
“We’re a historic landmark now,” said Lydia Scott, the Branch Manager, who has been at the South Side location for seven years and in the Carnegie Library system for 37.
The East Carson Street library closed in July 2011 to undergo the first major renovations since its opening in February 1909. It reopens this Saturday September 8, 2012.
The renovations brought the library new shelves, computer pods, air conditioning and better handicap accessibility. Many of the original historic fixtures were kept, including most of the original woodwork and marble baseboards.
To celebrate its renovations and new historic landmark status, the library will host a grand reopening celebration Saturday. Activities will be held both indoors and outdoors and include a magician, tours, refreshments and belly dancing.
Elaine Disioda, a clerical specialist at the library for more than 40 years, has watched more than the evolution the library, but the evolution of its patrons as well.
“Years ago, story time in the children’s section would have 30 kids at a time,” she said. “Now, maybe grandma lives on the South Side, so you take the kids so they can go to story time with her.”
Disioda says that families moved out of the area to the suburbs and took the younger population with them. In addition, nearly all seven of the schools that the neighborhood once housed have closed over the years.
Scott said one of the reasons the library has been able to maintain such a strong base of patrons over the years is that it has updated its collection to include more than just books. DVDs, audio books and e-books have been added to the library’s offerings.
Another big draw is the magazines.
“It’s something so simple,” said Scott. “People don’t realize we have them and you can check them out. They’re always so surprised.”
The library’s computers also bring in patrons of all demographics. A common misconception is thinking that everyone has a computer.
“Some people just don’t,” said Scott. “They come print résumés or check email on their lunch breaks. It’s more comfortable here.”
An addition that will be coming soon is new laptops, which will be available for visitor use anywhere in the library.
Both Disioda and Scott both said the thing they like most about the library’s history is the nostalgia it brings.
“Some people just come for nostalgic reasons,” Disioda said. “We’ve had people here from Europe who just want to stop in and see what it looks like. They remember coming when they were kids. And it’s always been the same.”
“More people are noticing us,” Scott added. “And we hope this will introduce even more people to the library.”
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Andrew Niedbalski of the South Side skims through a book at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. Niedbalski has been going to the South Side branch of the Carnegie Library library for over 30 years and expressed his sadness when it was closed temporary. Niedbalski says, “I missed it”
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- Photo By Kelly Cline The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side, which was built in 1909, closed in August of 2011 for improvements and renovations to the historic building. There has been a soft opening for the facility for the past two weeks, but the grand reopening will take place Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012.
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Elaine Bisiada of Baldwin Borough works at the customer services desk at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. Bisiada has been an employee of the library for over 40 years and is amazed at the transformation of the facility. Bisiada says, “It’s awesome, really awesome. It’s over expectations.”
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Bonnie Culbertson, 34, reads a books to her 19-month-old daughter Lily, both residents of South Side, at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. The mother expressed her excitement in the reopening of the facility that has been closed for the past year. Culbertson says, “We’ve been really looking forward to it opening up again. We’ve missed it.”
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Located at 2205 East Carson Street stands the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side that has been closed for the past year. The historic landmark has been renovated and is now reopened to the public.
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- Photo By Kelly Cline
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side employee Elaine Bisiada of Baldwin Borough handles a concern over the telephone on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. Bisiada has worked at the library for over 40 years and is amazed at the transformation of the facility. Bisiada says, “It’s awesome, really awesome. It’s over expectations.”
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- Photo By Kelly Cline Books line the shelves at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. The facility closed for renovations in August of 2011 and has recently opened its door again to the public. A grand reopening ceremony will take place on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 beginning with a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. and followed with crafts, music, and other activities.
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- Photo By Kelly Cline The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh South Side, located at 2205 East Carson Street, has been closed for the past year due to renovations to the facility. The doors are now open to the public and the grand reopening celebration will begin with music followed by a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012.
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I went to the south side celebration on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 and I really enjoyed the activities they had. But I was just wondering if there was anymore pictures taken of all the people that were there. There were several photographers and they did take a photo of my granddaughter and I was wondering if any more photos will be posted for this library? Thank you from my granddaughter and me for a wonderful time.
Sincerely,
Dolores Argotti