The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is known by many names – “Beacon on the Hill,” “Carnegie Carnegie,” “AC Free,” etc.
All of these titles will hopefully help avoid confusion, as there are a number of Carnegie libraries in and around Pittsburgh (no, we are not the big library in Oakland).
At Carnegie Carnegie, we have a lot to offer. Our motto of “something for everyone” means we really pride ourselves on serving a wide variety of people. Sometimes that means helping you find your next read, introducing you to a new band, teaching you about a different time period, or even allowing you to rent our space for your event.
Not only do we have dedicated board members, but we also have knowledgeable library staff and volunteers, an experienced children’s librarian, docents for our Espy Post, program supervisors for the Music Hall, and a marketing and communications intern.
Our small but motivated team is ready to serve the community in a different way this September at our annual fundraiser, “HiFi: An Evening of Mid-Century Sound.” We’ll be partying all night on September 20th, with a cocktail hour, a performance by the Half-Step All Stars, and an after-party.
It may feel strange to be thinking about September right now, but the summer season always goes by so quickly. It seems like everything goes downhill into fall after the Fourth of July, and many stores stock up on back-to-school supplies shortly after the holiday.
For many, summer is a time of celebration, with concerts, parties, or a night indoors with ice cream and air conditioning. But the fun doesn’t have to end just because summer is ending. September will be here sooner than you think, and that means our advantage is there too.
The Carnegie Carnegie may be best known as the Library & Music Hall, but we are also home to the Captain Thomas Espy Post, Lincoln Gallery and Studio. If you attend our fundraiser, you may even meet a few ghosts preparing for the spooky season (we host Whispering Souls Paranormal Ghost Hunters in October). Not only will this be an unforgettable evening, but a memory of our unique and historic place.
Better yet, it’s a great opportunity to see our space in a different light. After all, how many cocktail parties have you hosted in a library?
As many locals already know, we have spent the last two decades raising funds and restoring our building room by room. We are pleased to announce that we aim to complete the restoration of the Music Hall in 2025.
Our hall will remain functional – in 2023 we hosted 51 performances featuring nearly 450 local artists and entertaining 6,780 spectators – but the restoration will improve the usability, comfort, safety and aesthetics of the space, benefiting both audiences and artists.
Upgrades include new lighting, plaster repairs and paint, a new stage floor and improved balcony seating. However, none of this is worthless without the installation of air conditioning, which will allow the Music Hall to be used year-round. However, we will be renting a unit for our party in case it hasn’t cooled down yet.
By attending our fundraiser and donating to Carnegie Carnegie, you not only help us maintain our historic building and keep us operating, but you also benefit. Thanks to the support of our donors, we are able to offer a variety of programs throughout the year, including author visits, concerts, story times, docent tours, lectures, children’s clubs, and more.
However, this would not be possible without the interest and support of the population.
HiFi tickets are on sale now, come celebrate with us on September 20th. Don’t miss out on the best seats in the house. For full details and tickets visit showclix.com/tickets/hifi2024 today.
