Student Library Cards Roll Out in Woodland Hills and West Allegheny School Districts
Studies have shown that the benefits of using a library include better success in school and an increased likelihood of continued use of the library into adulthood. However, not all children are given the opportunity to use the library due to various barriers. The Allegheny County Library Association is proud to announce that two […]
Path to Success: Allegheny County Library Association
Pittsburgh Today Live’s Mikey Hood finds out more about the educational summer programs put on by the Allegheny County Library Association. Learn more about our 2021 Summer Virtual Learning Programs
Our Nature Partners
Prior to the pandemic, the Allegheny County Library Association launched the Nature Explorer Program with the Allegheny County Parks, Allegheny Land Trust and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. While the nature backpacks are not currently circulating, the four organizations have been able to maintain the partnership through 2020 and into 2021 – offering virtual programming, curated […]
Our Library Champions
Our libraries across Allegheny County have had many champions over the years. More than a dozen of our libraries bear the distinctive mark of Andrew Carnegie. He constructed 1,700 library buildings in the United States, but he wanted to ensure that local communities would support those facilities going forward. He donated the buildings to […]
Summer is Right Around the Corner
Summer is right around the corner and the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) is pleased to announce another summer of virtual programming beginning June 14. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, the need for remote programming from partners that garner the largest audiences is still necessary and important. We are pleased to have partner […]
National Library Week 2021
National Library Week, April 4 – 10, 2021, is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. The theme for National Library Week 2021, “Welcome to Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – […]
Every Public Library is a Star to the Community It Serves
It’s true – every public library is a star to the community it serves. In Allegheny County, we are fortunate to have many libraries that are recognized as stars both nationally and statewide. Library Journal Star Libraries Library Journal’s Star Library Ratings spotlight the best of the best across America. The 2020 edition indexes […]
The Cost of COVID-19
It is hard to believe that it’s been nearly seven months since the pandemic caused widespread closures across Allegheny County. While libraries also closed their doors (temporarily), they continued to serve in a variety of ways. They offered a full range of virtual programming for all ages, online and phone reference support, access to their […]
Everyday Advocacy
By Kimberley Hrivnak “I don’t know what to say.” That’s a statement that I regularly hear when it comes to advocacy. There is no one-size-fits- all answer, but there is an easy way to get started. Build the relationship. Don’t let your first visit to an elected official be an ask. Start small. Drop off […]
Something New for Summer Reading
This year, in an unprecedented show of solidarity among the county libraries, the Allegheny County Library Association delivered the first-ever virtual summer reading program. Not knowing what to expect and having no other programs to model after, summer of 2020 could be considered a success in collaboration and a lesson in virtual programming.
