Turtle Creek Public Library

Turtle Creek Public Library is a public library serving the community of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, and is a member of the Allegheny County Library Association. The library provides access to a wide range of materials, including books, audio books, e-books, DVDs, and databases, similar to those found at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Library System. The library's mission is to provide educational, recreational, and cultural resources to the community, in partnership with organizations like the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments and the Westmoreland County Community College.

● History

The history of the library dates back to the early 20th century, when it was established as a small reading room in the Turtle Creek Borough Building, with support from the Andrew Carnegie foundation, which also funded the construction of the Braddock Carnegie Library and the Homestead Carnegie Library. Over the years, the library has undergone several transformations, including a major renovation in the 1990s, which was funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Today, the library is a thriving community hub, offering a range of services and programs, including those in partnership with the Turtle Creek School District and the Westmoreland County Library System.

● Collections and Services

The library's collections include a wide range of materials, including fiction and non-fiction books, children's literature, young adult literature, and large print books, similar to those found at the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. The library also offers a variety of services, including interlibrary loan services, test preparation resources, and career counseling, in partnership with organizations like the Pennsylvania CareerLink and the Job Corps. Additionally, the library provides access to digital media, including streaming services like Hoopla and Kanopy, and e-book lending platforms like OverDrive, similar to those used by the Los Angeles Public Library and the Chicago Public Library.

● Architecture and Facilities

The library's building is a modern, LEED-certified facility, designed by the architectural firm of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, which also designed the Senator John Heinz History Center and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The building features a range of sustainable design elements, including solar panels, rain gardens, and energy-efficient lighting, similar to those found at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Green Building Council. The library's facilities include a large community room, a children's storytime room, and a teen lounge, as well as study rooms and meeting rooms available for public use, similar to those found at the Harvard University Library and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Library.

● Programs and Events

The library offers a wide range of programs and events for adults, children, and teens, including author readings, book clubs, and children's storytime, in partnership with organizations like the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. The library also hosts a variety of workshops and classes, including computer classes, craft classes, and language classes, similar to those offered by the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, the library participates in national reading programs, such as the Summer Reading Program and the National Book Festival, which are sponsored by the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts.

● Community Involvement

The library is committed to community involvement and outreach, and partners with a range of local organizations, including the Turtle Creek Food Bank, the Turtle Creek Community Development Corporation, and the Westmoreland County United Way. The library also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including tutoring programs and community service projects, similar to those offered by the AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Additionally, the library participates in regional library initiatives, such as the Western Pennsylvania Library Association and the Pennsylvania Library Association, which are dedicated to promoting literacy and library services throughout the region, in partnership with organizations like the National Library of Medicine and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Category:Libraries in Pennsylvania