Carnegie Libraries: Challenges and Solutions

PittsburghFree.Net

Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Network of Carnegie Library Preservationists
Electronic Mail: < clsesspgh@andrewcarnegie.cc > *** Internet Web Site Cover Page: < http://www.carnegielibraries.info >
2006 November

Educational session at the 2006 National Preservation Conference in Pittsburgh, sponsored annually by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and locally (2006) sponsored by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.

Annual conference sessions regarding the preservation of historic Carnegie Libraries were initiated, at the 2004 National Preservation Conference held in Louisville, by then-Louisville Historic Preservation Officer Joanne Weeter. This first meeting was an "affinity session" held in the historic Main Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, one of the 1,689 Carnegie Libraries constructed in the United States.

An affinity session was also held at the conference hotel for the 2005 National Preservation Conference in Portland, Oregon. The Carnegie Libraries session held at the 2006 National Preservation Conference was the first "educational session" held. Attendance has steadily grown for these sessions, from about 30 in 2004 to more than 100 in 2006.


National Preservation Conference -- "Making Preservation Work!"
October 31 to November 5, 2006
Hilton Hotel (and nearby venues), Downtown Pittsburgh


Carnegie Libraries: Challenges and Solutions
Educational Session: Intermediate/Advanced
Friday, November 3, 2006, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie chose libraries as his primary philanthropic gift because he believed in the democratic ideal of equal access to culture, education and enlightenment by rich and poor alike. Over a 24-year period beginning in 1893, Carnegie granted more than $41 million to fund the construction of 1,689 public libraries across the country. One hundred years later, only 772 of these still function as libraries. Hundreds have been adapted to new uses or lost to the wrecking ball. Learn about threats to the Carnegie libraries and explore how and why they should be preserved.

AIA/CES LU (HSW): 1.5

Hilton Sterlings 2 & 3 (Hilton Hotel, Sterlings Suite 2 & 3)

Speakers: Mary B. Dierickx, President, Mary B. Dierickx Architectural Preservation Consultants; Joseph C. Rizzo, AIA, ALA, Principal, Hillier Architecture; Glenn A. Walsh, Preservationist (Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss)

Session Manager and Moderator: Joanne Weeter, Principal, Joanne Weeter Historic Preservation Consulting


Session Presentations

Introduction of Mary Dierickx by Moderator Joanne Weeter (Brief Biography of Panelist)
Mary B. Dierickx: "The Architecture of Literacy, Carnegie Libraries in the U.S."
(.pdf file: 7.0 MB with images) *** (.html version without images)

Introduction of Joseph Rizzo by Moderator Joanne Weeter (Brief Biography of Panelist)
Joseph C. Rizzo, AIA, ALA: "How to Save Carnegie Libraries as Libraries"

(.pdf file: 3.7 MB with images) *** (.html version without images)

Introduction of Glenn Walsh by Moderator Joanne Weeter (Brief Biography of Panelist)
Glenn A. Walsh: "Primary Impediments to Historic Preservation: EGO and MONEY !"
Outline of Presentation *** Photographs Used During Presentation (Used only photographs of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall)
Handouts --
Historic Carnegie Library Buildings in County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania (suburban Pittsburgh Carnegie libraries)
Historic Carnegie Library Buildings in City of Pittsburgh (The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh)
Additional Resources

To purchase a compact disc, including the audio of this session (audio recording number 431), click here.


Other Information

News Release
Field Session Proposal: TOUR SEVEN EARLY CARNEGIE LIBRARIES (not implemented for 2006 conference)
Network of Carnegie Library Preservationists
History of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries
History of Astronomer John Brashear, Confidant of Andrew Carnegie
History of Henry Clay Frick, Business Partner of Andrew Carnegie

* 2006 July 12 - The Courier-Journal, Louisville:
COMMUNITY NEWSMAKER | JOANNE WEETER
Preservation officer to become consultant
Expertise will still serve community

By Martha Elson
Carnegie Libraries advocate, author, and Louisville Historic Preservation Officer Joanne Weeter retires after 23-year city career to become historic preservation consultant. Ms. Weeter, who initiated annual Preserving Carnegie Libraries conference sessions at the National Preservation Conference in 2004, also plans to write a history of Kentucky's Carnegie Libraries.


Carnegie Libraries: Challenges and Solutions

PittsburghFree.Net Authored By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Network of Carnegie Library Preservationists
Electronic Mail: < clsesspgh@andrewcarnegie.cc > *** Internet Web Site Cover Page: < http://www.carnegielibraries.info >
2006 November

Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web Site is not affiliated with the Andrew Carnegie Free Library,
Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves Civil War Reenactment Group, The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute,
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, or any other Carnegie Library discussed on this web site or during the conference session.

This Internet, World Wide Web Site administered by Glenn A. Walsh.
Unless otherwise indicated, all pages in this web site are --
© Copyright 2006 - 2007, Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved.
Contact Web Site Administrator: < clsesspgh@andrewcarnegie.cc >.

This Internet World Wide Web page created on 2006 November 20.