Renovations at the Beechview Library will be completed at the end of next year, according to a timeline released Thursday by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Better lighting will be installed, along with upgraded heating and cooling and new furniture. Audrey Iacone, manager of the branch, is excited about the new elevator.
“For our youngest and oldest patrons, it'll mean total access,” she said.
The library will host meetings later this year to gather public input before work begins.
The Carnegie board voted in 2009 to move the Mt. Washington branch and to close the Beechview branch and others in Hazelwood, Lawrenceville and the West End because of a lack of money. It later scuttled those plans because of a public backlash.
The timeline also indicates the library system will consider improving both the Carrick and Knoxville branches, instead of combining them as the board voted to do four years ago. The change came after years of community meetings, surveys of patrons and a real estate review.
“At this point, there isn't a good location for us to do one (branch),” said library spokeswoman Trina Walker.
Cost estimates have not been set, but Walker said the projects will be paid for from the remainder of a $58.1 million capital campaign and through additional fundraising. A tax approved by city voters in 2011 funds daily operations.
The system is still working on improvements to the West End and Hazelwood branches. The latter is being moved from the 4900 block of Second Avenue to a larger site in the neighborhood. Both projects should be completed early next year.
Since 2003, the Carnegie Library has built two branches, fully renovated eight others and partly renovated three buildings, including the Main Library in Oakland.
Bill Zlatos is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7828 or bzlatos@tribweb.com.
