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 5,608 U.S. public libraries and shines a spotlight on the 262 Star Libraries. Seven nationally recognized Star Libraries are in Pennsylvania with three in Allegheny County – the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Green Tree Public Library and Sewickley Public Library.

The Library Journal index scores libraries based on a calculation of population, visits, physical and electronic circulation, program attendance, public computer and Wi-Fi use and electronic retrievals that is set against the average of each library’s peer group. The peer group is determined by the library’s expenditure range.

Please join us in congratulating the staff and leadership of these libraries!

PA Forward^® Star Libraries

PA Forward^® was created to give voice to what the library community already knows: with the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all citizens.

Libraries throughout Pennsylvania are already offering programs and services promoting the five literacies of PA Forward^®: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy and Financial Literacy. By completing the steps in the PA Forward® Star Library Program, libraries demonstrate that they are part of a larger statewide initiative that is powering progress and elevating the quality of life in Pennsylvania.

As of December 2020, 31 libraries in Allegheny County have been recognized as PA Forward^® Star Libraries.

Bronze Star Libraries – Braddock Carnegie Library, Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale, Dormont Public Library, Pleasant Hills Public Library, Scott Township Public Library and Shaler North Hills Public Library

Silver Star Libraries – C.C. Mellor Memorial Library, Carnegie Library of Homestead, Cooper-Siegel Community Library, Northern Tier Regional Library, Penn Hills Library, Robinson Township Library and Wilkinsburg Public Library

Gold Star Libraries – Baldwin Borough Public Library, Bethel Park Public Library, Brentwood Library, Bridgeville Public Library, Community Library of Allegheny Valley, Community Library of Castle Shannon, Jefferson Hills Library, Monroeville Public Library, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Northland Public Library, Oakmont Carnegie Library, Plum Community Library, Sewickley Public Library, South Fayette Township Library, South Park Township Library, Upper St Clair Township Library, Western Allegheny Community Library and Whitehall Public Library