Lawrenceville Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Lawrenceville Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh occupies a late 19th-century building with multiple floors holding books and resources. The structure blends historic architecture with spaces for different types of collections and learning opportunities.

The building opened in 1898 and was the second library in Pittsburgh's system and the sixth Carnegie-funded library in the United States. It marked an important moment in the growth of public libraries across the country.

The building was among the first places where visitors could walk to shelves and pick books themselves, rather than asking a librarian to fetch them. This open way of accessing knowledge has become the standard in libraries around the world.

The building is accessible for people with mobility issues and provides public computers with internet access throughout. The location makes it easy to reach by several bus routes nearby.

The ground beneath the building was once Lawrenceville's first cemetery, and a tombstone discovered there is preserved inside. This unexpected history ties the area's past to its present-day use.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: 1898

Architects: Longfellow, Alden & Harlow

Official opening: May 11, 1898

Part of: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Address: 279 Fisk St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Phone: +14126823668

Website: https://carnegielibrary.org/clp_location/lawrenceville

GPS coordinates: 40.46763,-79.95905

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:02