The Power of Positive Human Interaction

Increasingly it seems we are living in a society that just keeps fracturing. Passionate and emotional disagreements over just about every aspect of life can be overwhelming. How can we start healing and bridging these divides? The following titles suggest the power of positive human interaction as a healing force we can all engage in.


Banned Books Week

Each year the Office of Intellectual Freedom, part of the American Library Association, provides information and publicizes events for Banned Books Week. An annual celebration of the freedom to read, each year’s observance features a list of the top ten most challenged books of the previous year.



Independence Day Nonfiction for Adults

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a wide selection of print and digital titles to commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. Make sure to include some reading time in your 4th of July celebration plans.


Independence Day Reads for Kids and Teens

What’s blue and white and read all over? Books, of course! Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a wide selection of print and digital titles to commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776.


Depolarizing From Within

The following titles are a mixture of liberal and conservative views, with the aim of providing a balance of contextual information to address the challenges of political polarization.



The Power of Story and Representation

It is essential for people of all backgrounds and experiences to learn the power of embracing their story and the importance of storytelling – no matter their niche. 


Hear Me Out: Racial Histories

Systemic racism touches all parts of life and is linked to everything from poverty, to health, to education, to incarceration. It’s a racism that doesn’t rely on racist thoughts or actions from individuals, but rather on the laws, regulations, preferences and power structures that have built up over the centuries, and that continue to harm people of color. Check out these titles to learn more about systemic racism. And if you’d like to discuss these and related issues, the Library is co-hosting a virtual event on Wednesday, May 26 as part of the ‘Hear Me Out’ Dialogue Series.