With summer reading comes summer blockbusters! Whether you’re beating the heat in your local Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch or in your neighborhood movie theater, we’ve got you covered. In keeping with CLP’s Summer Reading theme of Read Five!, here are five books to read before or after seeing each of these highly anticipated summer movies, that complement the films in different ways.

Supporting libraries comes naturally for John Gismondi and his family. “Growing up, our family’s home, where my 98-year-old mother still resides, was within walking distance to the Uniontown Public Library, and my siblings and I were regular users. Although neither of my parents were educated beyond high school, they instilled an intellectual curiosity in all of us and it served us well throughout the rest of our lives,” said John. Through their foundation, the Gismondi Family Foundation, John and his wife Lisa have generously supported libraries. In 1995, in honor…

Thanks to current technology and digitization, uncovering your family saga is easier than ever. Check out these resources to learn more.

Not long ago, while clearing out my mother’s belongings from her apartment on Centre Avenue, I happened to find two overdue library books. Knowing full well that she would have wanted these to be returned, I walked them over to the Main branch, that same walk that my mother and I would have taken together many times over the years. – Saïd Sayrafiezadeh In December…

Just like any of the big monthly celebrations – Black History month, Women’s History month, etc. – Pride month should be a starting point for exploration and interest rather than a self-contained celebration. Here are some suggestions for putting more queer history into your feed and your daily life, along with connections to our collection. 

The filibuster has often been a polarizing tactic in the United States Senate, but do you know the origin of this 4-syllable word (Hint: its name comes from the Dutch word for “pirate”)? Check out our latest blog post to learn more about the record-setting uses of the filibuster throughout U.S. history, and why it's such a controversial parliamentary procedure today.

In 1916, the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny City determined a need for a branch library to serve the diverse population of the western most extremity of Allegheny City. Conrad Dietrich Estate was chosen to build a 40 by 40 feet brick building near the corner of Woods Run Avenue on Brighton Road. The library leased this first building and equipped it with shelving to…

Already binged every television show? Kids all caught up on Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Are you on the hold list for the next book in your preferred series? Hoopla can keep you entertained and introduce you to new always available titles to find your next favorite for children, teens and adults. This summer we are challenging all Pittsburghers to read five…

The first audition for American Idol wasn’t intimidating at all for 16-year-old Fox Chapel sophomore Sloane Simon. “It was virtual. I was in my kitchen and my mom was with me,” she laughs. But out in California? Walking into a room where celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie were sitting there, waiting? “Terrifying,” she admits. “They were all just staring at me…