Background

Andrew Carnegie once envisioned public libraries as places of learning and equal opportunity. Since 1895, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has grown and changed right along with our community as we work to engage people in literacy and learning.

Guided by our mission of literacy and learning, along with our community’s vision for the future, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) embarked upon an ambitious $50 million fundraising campaign in 2015 to transform library services and shape the region’s future.

The goal of Realize: Our Power, Our Potential was to increase strategic investments in the areas of education, workforce and economic development, and neighborhood vitality. The campaign also emphasized endowment and planned giving to ensure the Library’s future sustainability.

Thanks to you and thousands of generous individuals and organizations who made contributions between 2015 – 2022, the Library surpassed its campaign goal, raising $51.7 million!

We are also grateful for your annual support of our Library’s operating budget, which supports the essential services the Library provides to our patrons each and every day.

If you are interested in supporting a special project, we invite you to talk with our staff about options available, including:

Gifts to Endowment

The Library welcomes individuals to create a named endowed fund or make a gift to an existing endowed fund. Your gift to the endowment helps ensure Pittsburgh families can count on the Library today, tomorrow, and far into the future so every will have the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality.

Gifts to Capital

Over the last two decades, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has renovated, expanded or relocated all of its neighborhood libraries. Your gift to our general capital fund will support future projects, ensuring that our spaces provide customers with the resources they need.

Gifts to Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians

LAMP serves people with print disabilities throughout Pennsylvania with a variety of accessible formats including print, audio, and digital. The newly renovated Pittsburgh location is a welcoming and innovative space that encourages engagement, community advocacy, and lifelong learning.

Become a Member of the Library Circle

Sustain Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for future generations with a contribution to the endowment or through a planned gift. Learn more about how you can make the Library part of your family’s legacy.

For more information, call Anne Lee, Manager of Special Gifts and Planned Giving at 412.622.6276 or email leeanne@carnegielibrary.org.