About Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville, a unique Pittsburgh East End neighborhood, is home to a diverse community filled with art galleries, restaurants, boutiques and historic landmarks. The Library has been an integral part of this neighborhood, supporting its users in literacy and learning, since its founding in 1898.

CLP – Lawrenceville was the first neighborhood library building financed by Andrew Carnegie. Built on the former site of the area’s first cemetery, its construction budget of $40,000 was exceeded by just $1,200 upon completion. Stop by and you can take a look at the tombstone that is suspected to have been unearthed during construction.

Recent updates to the building include modern conveniences such as air conditioning and a state-of-the-art auditorium space, which are complemented by original architectural elements such as the beautifully ornate metalwork on the stack endcaps.

We hope you will visit us soon at CLP – Lawrenceville!

CLP – Lawrenceville is a historic landmark, opened in 1898 at the forefront of library planning. It was the second American public library designed with a children’s room in mind and, historians believe, was the first designed with innovative radial open stacks, enabling the public to access the stacks themselves.

• 24/7 Book Return
• Air Conditioning
• Copier (small fee may apply)
• Fax Scan Station
• Free Wi-Fi
• Meeting Rooms
• Public Computers
• Wireless Printing (small fee may apply)