>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF WQED'S PITTSBURGH HISTORY SERIES.

>> FIVE.

WE'VE MADE IT TO PROGRAM NUMBER FIVE.

THE WEATHER HAS TURNED A LITTLE BIT COOL HERE IN OUR FAIR CITY IN DECEMBER.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS ON DECEMBER 8, 2010, THE NIGHT WHEN IT FIRST AIRS, YOU KNOW FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO, THE WEATHER'S TURNED COLD.

WE'VE EVEN HAD SOME FLURRIES.

IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO CURL UP WITH A GOOD BOOK IN FRONT OF A ROARING FIRE.

WHERE DO YOU GET THE READING MATERIAL?

WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF OPTIONS, BUT THE LIBRARY IS STILL A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF WINTERTIME ENTERTAINMENT, ANYTIME ENTERTAINMENT.

BOOKS, CDs, DVDs, EVEN ONLINE ACCESS.

IF THERE'S NO LINE AT THE COMPUTERS HERE, YOU CAN WATCH EVERY EPISODE OF THIS SHOW THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR ONLINE AT WQED.ORG.

THE NAME OF THIS SHOW IS "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF."

AND TONIGHT WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR LIBRARIES.

MY NAME IS RICK SEBAK.

I'M YOUR HOST OR GUIDE OR FELLOW LIBRARY LOVER.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE ALLEGHENY BRANCH ON THE NORTH SIDE.

WE'RE GONNA STOP AT THE BRADDOCK CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

WE'RE GONNA HIT THE SOUTH SIDE BRANCH.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE A BRIEF VISIT HERE TO THE MAIN BRANCH IN OAKLAND, AND WE'LL END UP AT THE HOMEWOOD BRANCH OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

WE ARE A CITY OF GREAT LIBRARIES.

IS YOUR CARD UP TO DATE?

>>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.

>>> SO SOME 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST STARTED MAKING DOCUMENTARIES HERE AT WQED, I VERY QUICKLY LEARNED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARIES IN PITTSBURGH, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SPECIFIC WITH YOUR LANGUAGE ABOUT WHICH ONE WAS FIRST.

THE VERY FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSIONED BY ANDREW CARNEGIE WAS THE OLD ALLEGHENY BRANCH ON THE NORTH SIDE.

WHEN IT OPENED IN 1890, IT WAS A BIG THING.

ANDREW CARNEGIE HIMSELF WAS THERE.

SO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BENJAMIN HARRISON.

IN 1997, WHEN WE MADE A PROGRAM CALLED "NORTH SIDE STORY," WE STOPPED BY FOR A BRIEF VISIT AT THE ALLEGHENY BRANCH.

I WAS VERY CAREFUL.

DEDICATED IN 1890, IT WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSIONED BY ANDREW CARNEGIE IN AMERICA, AND IN MANY WAYS, IT'S THE MODEL FOR ALL CARNEGIE LIBRARIES AROUND THE WORLD.

IT'S STILL A STATELY PLACE AND A COMFY LIBRARY, BUT HEAD LIBRARIAN CONNIE GALBREATH SHOWED US SOME PHOTOS OF HOW SPECTACULAR IT USED TO BE INSIDE.

>> THIS FIREPLACE AND THE PORTRAIT MANTLE AREA IS ACTUALLY WHERE WE HAVE THE PORTRAIT OF ANDREW CARNEGIE NOW WITH YOU SEE THE TWO DOORWAYS, WHICH WAS THE LIBRARIANS OFFICE AND ANOTHER OFFICE.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE RESTROOMS.

AND THAT'S A QUOTE FROM ANDREW CARNEGIE.

"ALLEGHENY WAS MY FIRST LOVE."

THAT'S THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS THE CITY.

>> WELL, ANDREW CARNEGIE WAS ONCE A BOY HERE IN ALLEGHENY, AND HE WANTED BOOKS TO READ.

THE VOLUMES HE FOUND AT THE LIBRARY OF ONE COLONEL JAMES ANDERSON ARE STILL HERE AT THIS LIBRARY.

STEVE PIETZAK IS A SENIOR REFERENCE LIBRARIAN HERE, AND HE OFFERED TO SHOW US THE OLD ANDERSON BOOKS THAT ARE KEPT UPSTAIRS, LOCKED IN THE RARE BOOK ROOM.

>> THIS IS THE COLONEL ANDERSON COLLECTION THAT ANDREW CARNEGIE AND PHIPPS AND OLIVER USED.

AND THESE BOOKS ARE DATED PRIOR TO 1860s.

>> ANDERSON LET THE YOUNG CARNEGIE AND HIS FRIENDS USE HIS LIBRARY FREE OF CHARGE.

>> IT JUST HAD SO MUCH.

LIKE, GEOGRAPHY, TRAVEL, MUSIC, LITERATURE, ART, PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION, AND A LOT OF THIS ANDREW CARNEGIE INCORPORATED INTO HIS LIFE, AND IT INFLUENCED HIM THROUGH TIME.

>> CARNEGIE WAS SO GRATEFUL TO ANDERSON THAT HE HAD A MONUMENT BUILT TO HIM IN 1904.

IT WAS TAKEN APART IN THE '60s, THEN PUT BACK TOGETHER IN THE '80s RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY'S FRONT DOOR.

WELL, THAT OLD ALLEGHENY BRANCH BUILDING, THE CLOCK TOWER ACTUALLY, WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN 2006, AND THEY SHUT THE BUILDING DOWN.

THEY BUILT A NEW LIBRARY ON FEDERAL STREET, WHICH OPENED IN 2009.

THAT BRANCH IS STILL CONSIDERED THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSIONED BY ANDREW CARNEGIE.

HE HAD PAID FOR SOME LIBRARIES EARLIER THAN THAT AT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CLUBS THAT HE BUILT IN THE TOWNS OR THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE HE HAD STEEL MILLS.

SO, IF YOU'RE IN BRADDOCK, YOU'LL OFTEN HEAR THAT THE LIBRARY THERE WAS FIRST.

IN 1999, WE MADE A PROGRAM CALLED "THINGS THAT ARE STILL HERE," AND WE INCLUDED THE BRADDOCK CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

BUILT IN THE LATE 1880s, IT INCORPORATES A LIBRARY AND A SORT OF EARLY HEALTH CLUB AND A MUSIC HALL.

IN THE '70s, IT WAS SLATED FOR DEMOLITION, BUT THE COMMUNITY SAVED IT.

>> IT IS AN ASTONISHING BUILDING.

>> WE TRY EVERY DAY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

>> IT'S LIKE A GEM.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> THERE ARE MANY LIBRARIANS WHO COME TO THIS, REGARDING THIS AS MECCA.

>> I LIKE TO COME IN THIS LIBRARY, TALK TO MISS FRANCINE.

>> THIS IS WHAT STARTED ME READING IS BEING ABLE TO COME TO THE LIBRARY.

>> MY FATHER TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ HERE.

>> I LIKE TO READ THEM SCARY BOOKS.

>> AND I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE THE NANCY DREW BOOKS WERE.

>> I LEARNED HOW TO SHOOT POOL AND SWIM.

>> I BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LIBRARY FOR SO LONG, UNTIL IT JUST FEELS LIKE AN OLD HABIT.

>> I JUST FEEL IT'S A PART OF ME, 'CAUSE I LIVE HERE IN BRADDOCK.

> FOR BRADDOCK TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF REVITALIZATION, IT'S GONNA CENTER AROUND THIS BUILDING.

>> KIDS CAN COME NOW.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING A SAFE PLACE TO GO.

>> I LIKE COMING HERE BECAUSE I LIKE TO LEARN.

AND I LIKE TO HAVE FUN.

>> IT'S REALLY A FULL-TILT COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED LIBRARIES.

MY MOTHER SAID, WHAT A PERFECT JOB!

>> MARY BECKER HAS BEEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE SINCE 1997.

SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH HER BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDING EVELYN BENZO, RAY HENDERSON, WILLIAM MYSTIC, AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING PEOPLE LIKE HELEN WATSON, JOHN HEMPEL, AND, FROM THE BRADDOCK'S FIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY, BOB MESSNER.

>> THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OWNS THE LIBRARY.

WE STILL HAVE A GOOD BIT OF WORK TO DO, AND THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY STILL HAS TO BE RAISED TO FINISH IT OFF.

>> EVERYONE WANTS THE LIBRARY TO BE OPEN FOREVER.

>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEVELED IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LAST LIBRARIAN WHO ARRIVED TO WORK ONE DAY AND FOUND THE DOORS CHAINED SHUT.

>> DAVE SOLOMON WAS THE LIBRARIAN.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE QUIRKY WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW.

>> BUT FILMMAKER TONY BUBA WOULD LATER INCLUDE DAVE SOLOMON IN THE FILM "VOICES FROM A STEEL TOWN."

>> WE IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PERSISTED, AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE'RE SEEING SOME LIGHT NOW AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> DAVE WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE BRADDOCK'S FIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND UNTIL HE DIED.

HIS LOVE FOR THIS BUILDING WAS INSPIRATIONAL.

>> HE'D SAY, "WELL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS."

GAPING HOLES IN THE PLASTER, HOLES IN THE FLOOR.

>> BUT WHAT IT MAKES YOU REALIZE -- IT JUST TAKES ONE PERSON WITH A VISION TO ORGANIZE A COMMUNITY TO GET BEHIND A BUILDING.

>> THE LIBRARIAN SAVED THE LIBRARY.

THAT'S RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

>> HE SAVED IT.

HIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOUGHT IT FOR $1 FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IT WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.

>> THE BUILDING WAS SO BLACK WE NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A TWO-TONED SCHEME IN THE BUILDING.

>> IT DON'T LOOK OLD, NOT TO ME ANYWAY.

>> BUT MORE AND MORE OF IT IS FIXED UP EVERY DAY.

THE OLD BILLIARD ROOM IS A MULTIPURPOSE PLACE NOW.

UP ON THE THIRD FLOOR, THERE'S A GYM WHERE KIDS PLAY EVERY DAY.

AND MARY BECKER SAID SHE'D GIVE US A TOUR OF SOME OF THE PLACES THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IN THE BUILDING.

>> AND HERE WE HAVE THE BASEMENT THAT USED TO BE THE BATHHOUSE WHERE THE MILLWORKERS COULD COME IN AND TAKE A BATH.

IT USED TO HAVE GRANITE STALLS.

TODAY, WE HAVE DECIDED TO TURN THIS INTO A MESSY ARTS ROOM.

WELL, WE'RE REALLY IN THE BASEMENT NOW.

THIS IS THE DOORWAY INTO THE BATH HOUSE, AND THIS IS THE TUNNEL, HOW THEY CAME INTO THE BUILDING.

>> WHEN THIS TUNNEL WAS OPEN, OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID MILLWORKERS COULD ENTER HERE TO USE THE CARNEGIE CLUB FACILITIES.

BUT SOME MEN WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ANDREW CARNEGIE, WHOM THEY CONSIDERED RUTHLESS.

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ATTEMPTS EVER TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO DETER A UNION FROM COMING IN BY TREATING YOUR EMPLOYEES BETTER.

OR BEING PERCEIVED AS TREATING THEM BETTER.

>> IT WAS A FUN PLACE FOR KIDS.

THAT'S WHY MY DAD DIDN'T OBJECT TO ME COMING HERE AT ALL.

HE JUST WOULDN'T COME.

>> PEOPLE HAVE MEMORIES, AND THEY HEARD THEIR PARENTS TALK ABOUT MR. CARNEGIE.

>> MOM WOULD SAY, "WHERE YOU GOING, BILLY?"

I'D SAY, "I'M GOING UP TO THE CARNEGIE CLUB."

DAD WOULD SAY, "SPFEEE!

ON THAT ANDREW CARNEGIE, THAT SON OF A -- " >> IT'S AN OLDER GENERATION THAT SORTA HAS THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH CARNEGIE.

>> SON OF A "BOGANCHA" HE WOULD SAY, SON OF A "SHOE."

>> AND THIS IS THE SWIMMING POOL.

IT WAS PART OF THE CARNEGIE CLUB, AND MEN COULD SWIM ANY TIME THAT IT WAS OPEN.

WOMEN GOT TO SWIM TWO HOURS TWO DAYS A WEEK.

THE MEN SWAM IN THE NUDE, BUT WOMEN HAD A CHANGING ROOM WHICH IS NOW MY OFFICE.

>> THEY'RE NOT SURE YET WHAT TO DO WITH THE POOL.

IT'S ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND DIRECTLY ABOVE IT ON THE SECOND, THERE'S ANOTHER AMAZING TREASURE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PLACES TO BE IN THE WHOLE BUILDING.

I COME HERE TO DREAM A LOT.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST CARNEGIE HALL EVER BUILT.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS ROOM LOOKED LIKE WHEN I CAME HERE.

THERE WAS ABOUT A SIX-FOOT HOLE IN THE CEILING THAT YOU COULD SEE ALL THE WAY TO THE SKY.

THAT'S ALL BEEN REPAIRED AND PLASTERED AND PAINTED.

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL NOW.

>> I WANT OUR RESIDENTS IN THIS ENTIRE AREA TO START PARTICIPATING.

>> AND THE BUILDING I THINK MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT IT NOW AS A PLACE OF HOPE.

AND SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE.

>> WE ARE THE STAR.

WE ARE THE SHINING STAR IN BRADDOCK.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PRIDE IN THIS BUILDING.

I KNOW I DO.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLACE.

BUT IT NEEDS A LITTLE MORE HELP, AND YOU KNOW, THE BRADDOCK CARNEGIE LIBRARY IS AN INDEPENDENT LIBRARY THAT'S NOT PART OF THE SYSTEM OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH, SO IT RELIES ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU FOR CONTRIBUTIONS.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DONATION, IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE HOURS OF OPERATION, YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO BRADDOCKCARNEGIE.BLOGSPOT.COM.

NOW YOU KNOW THERE ARE INTERESTING, UNUSUAL, SMALLER LIBRARIES IN ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES, AT LEAST SINCE 1998 WHEN WE MADE THE PROGRAM CALLED "SOUTH SIDE," IS THE ONE ON CARSON NEAR 22nd.

SOME OF THE PERSONNEL MAY HAVE CHANGED BY NOW, BUT THAT PLACE HAS GOOD BONES.

IT'S THE SOUTH SIDE BRANCH.

>> IT'S NOT A VERY LARGE LIBRARY, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ABOUT 30,000, 40,000 BOOKS HERE -- VOLUMES AS THEY SAY IN THE LIBRARY BUSINESS.

>> CHARMAINE MOZLACK HAS BEEN THE DEPARTMENT HEAD HERE SINCE THE LATE '80s.

>> I WALKED IN, AND I JUST THOUGHT, WOW!

THIS IS WHAT A LIBRARY'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS, ALL THE WOODWORK, ALL THE WINDOWS, ALL THE BOOKS, THIS IS A DREAM LIBRARY.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1909.

AND THE WEEK THAT IT OPENED, IT HAD I THINK 10,000 VISITORS, AND THE SHELVES WERE PICKED CLEAN IN THE FIRST WEEK.

THERE WERE NO BOOKS LEFT.

THEY HAD TO GET BOOKS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES.

THEY HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES HERE THAT THE STAFF HAD TO SPEAK SEVERAL LANGUAGES, AND THEY WERE HIRED BASED ON, COULD YOU SPEAK POLISH?

COULD YOU SPEAK FRENCH?

COULD YOU SPEAK GERMAN?

>> THE BUILDING ITSELF HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, AND EVEN ALL THE MODERN ADDITIONS OF COMPUTER TERMINALS AND SUCH HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH CONCERN FOR THE STYLE OF THE OLD STRUCTURE AND ITS GLORIOUS WOODWORK.

>> THE OAK IS ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING.

THE FRONT DESK IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.

MOST OF THE TABLES ARE ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING, AND ONE WAY YOU CAN TELL IF IT'S ORIGINAL OR NOT IS THE ORIGINAL PLACES WHERE THE GAS LIGHTS CAME UP HAVE BEEN ENCLOSED WITH THE OLD OAK.

>> THERE ARE OTHER PIECES OF THE PAST TOO -- A BRASS SLOT IN THE FRONT DESK FROM THE DAYS BEFORE COMPUTERS, A BEAUTIFUL OLD CABINET PHONE BOOTH, AND, ON THE STAIRWAY, THE STAMP OF CARNEGIE STEEL IS A PERMANENT REMINDER OF WHO GOT THIS PLACE STARTED.

CHARMAINE ALSO KNOWS ABOUT A FEW HISTORIC ITEMS THAT AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

>> IN OUR CHILDREN'S ALCOVE, THERE USED TO BE A LITTLE TINY SINK, IN A CLOSET, AND THE LIBRARIANS WOULD MAKE THE CHILDREN WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE THEY HANDLED THE BOOKS.

AND I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T JUST TO PROTECT THE BOOKS.T SOMETIMES THIS WAS THE ONLY PLACE THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO BATHE, AND SO THEY WOULD WASH THEIR HANDS AND FACES HERE AT THE LIBRARY, AND ALSO IT HELPED GREATLY IN COMBATING GERMS AND DISEASE.

>> LIBRARIES HAVE LONG PROVIDED A VARIETY OF USEFUL SERVICES, AND THIS BUSY BRANCH IS NO EXCEPTION.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTENTION IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT BUILDING A LIBRARY ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THEY THOUGHT THAT THE WORKING MEN MAY NOT APPRECIATE A LIBRARY, BUT THE SOUTH SIDE BRANCH PROVED THAT THIS WAS A LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE WORKING CLASS.

>> LIBRARIES ARE FOR EVERYONE.

AND THAT SOUTH SIDE BRANCH, IT'S PART OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH SYSTEM, AND IT'S UP NEXT FOR REMODELING, FOR RENEWAL AND BRINGING THINGS UP TO DATE.

THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ALL OVER TOWN, EVEN HERE AT THE MAIN BRANCH IN OAKLAND.

THIS IS THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT.

I DO A LOT OF WORK UP HERE, AND I LOVE THIS PLACE, BUT IT USED TO BE ONE FLOOR DOWN.

IN THE YEAR 2000, WHEN WE DID A PROGRAM CALLED "SOMETHING ABOUT OAKLAND," WE CAME HERE.

YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT OAKLAND WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

>> PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO THE LIBRARY.

>> WHEN THE BUILDING WAS FIRST CONSTRUCTED, MOST OF IT WAS THE LIBRARY.

MARILYN COCCHIOLA HOLT IS NOW HEAD OF THE LIBRARY'S PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN LOCAL HISTORY, INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE.

>> WHEN MR. CARNEGIE ORIGINALLY PLANNED THE LIBRARY, HE SAID IN HIS DEDICATION SPEECH THAT OAKLAND WAS THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE CITY.

IT WAS A FARAWAY PLACE.

BUT HE SAID, "I ENVISION A GREATER PITTSBURGH."

AND HE SAID THAT GREATER PITTSBURGH WILL MAKE OAKLAND THE CENTER OF LEARNING, OF ART, OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE, AND HE SAID THIS LIBRARY IS PERFECTLY PLACED FOR THAT NEW GREATER PITTSBURGH.

>> WELL, TODAY, IN THE OLD BUT BIGGER LIBRARY ON THE FIRST FLOOR, SUSAN LANNA IS IN CHARGE OF THE HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT.

>> WHENEVER I STARTED GOING TO PITT, I STARTED TO COME HERE A LOT, JUST FINDING BOOKS AND READING, 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE ATMOSPHERE HERE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

IT'S A LOT MORE RELAXED HERE, AND I THOUGHT THE SERVICE WAS ALWAYS MORE FRIENDLY.

>> WHEN I COME INTO THE LIBRARY, I'M ALWAYS AWED BY THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, AND I ALWAYS TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACT THAT IT SAYS "FREE TO THE PEOPLE" ABOVE THE DOOR.

AND THAT REMINDS ME THAT THIS IS MY LIBRARY, AND ANDREW CARNEGIE GAVE IT TO ALL OF US.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW, BUT OUT THERE THE STEPS HAVE ACTUAL LITTLE -- THEY'VE BEEN WORN AWAY.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE USED THESE STEPS, AND THERE'S SO MUCH CHARACTER AND CHARM.

AND I THINK THE BUILDING MAKES IT SUCH A REVERED PLACE, AND PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THIS IS REALLY A SPECIAL PLACE, AND THERE'S SPECIAL THINGS HAPPENING HERE.

>> MR. CARNEGIE SAID THAT A MAN WHO WALKS INTO THE LIBRARY COMES INTO THE GREATEST SOCIETY IN THE WORLD.

>> WE HAVE WONDERFUL COMPUTER DATABASES.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF BOOKS ON, YOU KNOW, HOBBIES, AND SERIOUS THINGS AND REALLY FUN THINGS.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE LIBRARY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER TO SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE.

>> WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN THIS NEW THING CALLED THE POPULAR COLLECTION.

IT'S A LOT OF NEW POPULAR BOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT FIND IN BORDERS OR BARNES AND NOBLE, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN AN ATTRACTION FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN, PICK UP A BIG LOAD OF BOOKS AND BROWSE, AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

>> AND WE ARE HERE TO MAKE ALL OF THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THAT IS OUR MISSION.

>> WE ALSO HAVE DVDs.

BOOKS-ON-CD IS OUR NEWEST THING, WONDERFUL POPULAR MOVIES, THE KIND THAT YOU CAN GET IN BLOCKBUSTER.

ALSO, AND THEY'RE ALL FREE!

>> BUT AS IN THE MUSEUMS, THERE IS A LOT MORE STUFF HERE THAN YOU CAN SEE AT FIRST GLANCE.

>> IN MANY LIBRARIES, STACKS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED, BUT IN THIS LIBRARY WE DO HAVE CERTAIN STACKS THAT ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE.

>> BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS SO OLD, THE STACKS HAVE GLASS FLOORS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GONE TO SEE THOSE, BUT THE GLASS FLOORS ALLOW A LOT OF LIGHT TO COME THROUGH.

>> THE STACKS ARE HIGH.

THE BOOKS ARE ALL AROUND YOU.

YOU'RE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY BOOKS, BUT THE FLOORS AND THE WINDOWSILLS LET THE LIGHT IN.

AND EVEN IN THE WINTER, IT'S A WARM, INVITING PLACE, SURROUNDED BY BOOKS.

THAT'S A PLACE I LIKE TO BE.

>> I THINK IF PEOPLE WOULD START COMING, THEY'D SEE HOW MUCH STUFF WE HAVE, AND IT'S REALLY A FUN PLACE.

>> AIN'T IT THE TRUTH?

YOU KNOW, FUN MAY NOT BE THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF LIBRARIES, BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY FIND IT HERE.

AND ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME FUN WITH DR. BARBARA MISTICK.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY SYSTEM HERE IN PITTSBURGH.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE THEY FUN?

>> OH, THEY'RE VERY FUN.

THERE IS SO MUCH FUN TO HAVE HAPPEN HERE.

AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE KIDS GET HOPE ABOUT WHAT THEIR CAREERS ARE GONNA BE, OR PARENTS BRING KIDS TO A STORY TIME.

WE LAUGH, WE HAVE FUN, WE DO CREATIVE THINGS HERE EVERY DAY.

>> COOL.

I MEAN, IS PITTSBURGH AS IMPORTANT AS I THINK IN THE WHOLE SORT OF HISTORY OF LIBRARIES AND, YOU KNOW, CARNEGIE LIBRARIES?

DO WE SET THE STANDARDS HERE?

>> OH, THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNING OF LIBRARIES.

EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD WANTS TO COME HERE TO THIS LIBRARY BECAUSE THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY WITH BRANCHES.

IT WAS ALSO THE VERY FIRST LIBRARY THAT HAD A CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT.

LIBRARIES REALLY STARTED WITH MATERIALS FOR ADULTS FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING, AND HERE WAS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE ANDREW CARNEGIE SAW PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN AND SAID YOU GOT TO HAVE A CHILDREN'S ROOM.

AND THEN LATER WE HAD THE VERY FIRST LIBRARY SCHOOL HERE.

>> ACTUALLY, I SAW MY FRIEND DAVE MALEHORN HAD WRITTEN AN ARTICLE IN THE "POST-GAZETTE," AND HE CALLED THIS THE "MOTHERSHIP."

AND I LOVED THAT.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY THAT, BUT I -- STEPPED BACK, SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THIS IS THE MOTHERSHIP FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> COOL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS I REMEMBER IT AS A KID.

IT'S CHANGED.

AND IT'S CHANGING.

>> IT HAS.

IT CHANGES EVERY DAY.

I MEAN, THERE ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES -- DOWNLOADABLE BOOKS, THE INTERNET, STREAMING VIDEOS, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE NEW HERE AT THE LIBRARY.

AND WE ENJOY THAT.

WE LIKE PEOPLE TO KEEP COMING BACK.

>> COOL.

IS THERE ANY -- I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT AND YOU CAN'T BE TOO SPECIFIC, BUT IS THERE ONE OF THE BRANCHES THAT HAS A SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU PERSONALLY?

>> PERSONALLY, I'D HAVE TO SAY IT WAS SQUIRREL HILL.

MY KIDS GREW UP AT THE SQUIRREL HILL LIBRARY.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY HOURS WE SPENT THERE.

WHEN YOU USED TO WALK IN, THERE WAS A HUGE AQUARIUM, AND THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT WAS RIGHT IN THE VERY FRONT, AND I COULD NEVER EVEN GET INTO THE ADULT SECTION, 'CAUSE WE'D GET STUCK IN THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT, SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE LOCATION I'VE SPENT THE MOST TIME IN.

>> OH, WE ALWAYS WALK THROUGH UNDERNEATH.

IT'S UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR THERE.

IT'S KIND OF COOL.

>> IT'S ON THE SECOND FLOOR RIGHT ON THE CORNER.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT'S THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE -- FORBES AND MURRAY RIGHT THERE.

>> WELL, COOL.

I KNOW THAT IN 2004 WE DID A SHOW CALLED "IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOODS," AND WE WENT TO THE HOMEWOOD BRANCH.

WE MET DENISE GRAHAM THERE.

IS SHE STILL THERE?

>> SHE IS STILL THERE.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE STARTED IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AS A PAGE, AND THE LIBRARIAN THERE SUGGESTED TO HER THAT SHE BECOME A LIBRARIAN, AND SHE IS TODAY.

>> THE LIBRARY IS KIND OF THE HEART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS -- THIS IS A MEETING PLACE.

EVERYBODY COMES AND MEETS.

THEY COME TO RETURN THEIR BOOKS, AND THERE'S CONVERSATION OVER THE DESK.

>> I LOVE IT.

I COME HERE, I GET BOOKS, I GET TAPES, I GET DVDs.

>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE, WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK.

>> I COME HERE LIKE EVERY DAY.

EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT IT'S OPEN.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I CAME HERE AS A CHILD.

>> JUST A LOT OF FUN.

THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I CAN REMEMBER ABOUT COMING HERE.

NEVER THOUGHT THAT I'D EVER WORK HERE.

>> THIS IS MY HOME LIBRARY.

I GREW UP IN HOMEWOOD ABOUT FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS FROM HERE, SO THIS WAS MY LIBRARY.

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I COULD FINALLY PRINT MY NAME ON THAT APPLICATION TO GET MY LIBRARY CARD.

>> I COME 'CAUSE I LIKE THE LIBRARIANS AND I LIKE THE PEOPLE.

I LIKE HOW THEY REMODELED IT.

>> ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1910, THIS LIBRARY DID UNDERGO A MAJOR RENOVATION IN 2003 AND A FEW THINGS CHANGED.

>> WHEN YOU COME IN THE FRONT DOOR, THERE WAS A MASSIVE FRONT DESK.

THE PREVIOUS MANAGER CALLED IT THE BATTLESHIP.

THEY CUT THE BATTLESHIP IN HALF.

HALF OF IT NOW IS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK, AND THE OTHER HALF -- YOU CAN NOTICE THE WOOD -- IS THE COMPUTER CAFÉ OVER HERE.

>> THE WOOD, THAT WAS WHAT JUMPED OUT AT ME -- THE WOODWORK EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS JUST LIKE GLOWING, YOU KNOW.

>> MOST OF IT'S THE OLD WITH THE NEW.

THE SAME WOOD, 94 YEARS OLD.

>> OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S -- IT'S 200% BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

>> AND DENISE OFFERED TO GIVE US A TOUR, STARTING UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

>> THIS WAS THE BALLROOM, NOW IT'S A MEETING ROOM.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY GROUPS -- AND I DON'T MEAN JUST FROM HOMEWOOD -- OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT COME.

THE CHESS CLUB, THE JAZZ WORKSHOP, THE CARIBBEAN BOOK CLUB.

THE HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL BRING THEIR STUDENTS HERE.

>> THIS WAS THE CARETAKER'S APARTMENT.

IN HERE WAS A LIVING ROOM.

YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVE THE ROOM SET UP AS A COMPUTER LAB, BUT WE'RE LACKING COMPUTERS.

WE'RE HOPING TO GET GRANT MONEY TO FILL THESE DESKS.

BACK HERE WAS STILL APARTMENT SPACE.

>> YOU COME IN AND YOU RESPECT THE BUILDING.

YOU RESPECT THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT.

>> THIS IS -- THIS WAS THE CARETAKER'S DINING ROOM.

NOW IT'S THE STAFF LOUNGE.

WE COME UP HERE AND HAVE OUR BREAKS OR HAVE LUNCH.

THROUGH HERE'S THE KITCHEN.

YOU HAVE TO NOTICE THE WOODWORK IN THIS KITCHEN.

YOU DON'T GET WORKMANSHIP LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

THE LAST CARETAKER LIVED HERE TILL 1980.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE RIGHT HERE ON YOUR JOB.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS GO UPSTAIRS, HAVE YOUR LUNCH, COME ON BACK DOWN, TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.

THE BUILDING'S ALL YOURS.

>> I'VE ALSO HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT IF WE EVER GET RID OF THESE OAK TABLES TO GIVE THEM A CALL.

[ LAUGHS ] YOU KNOW.

>> WHEN I WAS A CUSTOMER RATHER THAN THE LIBRARIAN, STORY HOUR WAS IN THE CORNER HERE.

NOW IS WHERE WE KEEP OUR CHILDREN'S VIDEOS AND AUDIO CASSETTES.

BUT THIS IS WHERE THE LIBRARIAN TOLD STORIES.

I LOVE THIS BUILDING.

>> OH, LOTS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING FRED ROGERS, HAVE HAD AN AFFECTION FOR THIS PLACE.

THIS HOMEWOOD BRANCH WAS FEATURED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY IN THAT GREAT PITTSBURGH LOCALITY KNOWN AS "MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD."

WHEN MR. ROGERS CAME HERE, THE MASSIVE FRONT DESK WAS STILL HERE, AND JOYCE BROADUS WAS THE LIBRARIAN WHO DUBBED IT THE BATTLESHIP.

>> HELLO, MISS BROADUS.

>> HELLO, MR. ROGERS.

>> I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW MY TELEVISION NEIGHBOR -- MISS JOYCE BROADUS.

>> HELLO!

>> WHAT'D HE SAY?

"MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD."

THIS WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY?

WHOA.

>> THIS WAS THE LAST LIBRARY ANDREW CARNEGIE BUILT FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AND HE LIVED IN HOMEWOOD AND HAD REALLY GOOD MEMORIES OF HOMEWOOD.

THIS WAS THE LARGEST.

HE SPENT THE MOST MONEY ON THIS BUILDING.

>> DURING THE DAY WITH THE ADULTS, IT'S A MORE QUIET TIME.

THEY CAN WORK ON THE COMPUTERS.

THEY CAN STUDY.

WHEN THE KIDS COME IN, YOU KNOW HOW KIDS ARE.

THEY BURST THROUGH THE DOOR, "WE'RE HERE!"

YOU KNOW.

WE'RE LIKE THE, SAY, THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

>> THE PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS DONE, WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY'RE RESPONDING BY COMING BACK TO THE LIBRARY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO HANG OUT.

>> THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT LIBRARIES.

FREE TO THE PEOPLE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.

IT'S LIKE PUBLIC TELEVISION.

LIBRARIES LOVE EVERY DONATION THEY GET.

SO AS WE GET HERE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, AND YOU MIGHT START THINKING ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS, REMEMBER YOUR LIBRARY.

REMEMBER WQED TOO.

WHAT CAN WE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PROGRAM?

WELL, THERE USED TO BE A FIREPLACE IN THE LIBRARY ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO TAKE A KID TO A LIBRARY.

IT'S A GOOD HABIT TO GET INTO.

AND ISN'T IT AMAZING HOW MANY OF US STILL FEEL A CONNECTION, GOOD OR BAD, WITH OLD ANDREW CARNEGIE?

SO, GO CHECK SOMETHING OUT AT A LIBRARY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, STICK AROUND FOR THE CREDITS.

>>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE OTHER PRODUCTIONS FROM RICK SEBAK AND HIS COHORTS AT WQED, CHECK OUT THE MANY DVDS OFFERED AT SHOPWQED.ORG OR CALL 1-800-274-1307.

>> I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THIS MAIN BRANCH OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY HERE IN OAKLAND AT LEAST SINCE THE SUMMER AFTER FIRST GRADE.

I REMEMBER MY MOM USED TO BRING MY BROTHER AND ME OUT HERE FOR A SPECIAL CLASS IN THE MORNING, AND EVERY DAY WE'D DO SOMETHING COOL, AND OFTEN WE'D COME TO THE LIBRARY.

SO -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE REST.

>> TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES, TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION, GO ONLINE TO WQED.ORG/ITS-PITTSBURGH.

WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ON TWITTER, FOLLOW RICK AROUND HERE.

>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.