The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is known by many names — the beacon on the hill, the Carnegie Carnegie, A.C. Free, etc.
All these titles hopefully help to avoid confusion, as there are a number of Carnegie libraries in and around Pittsburgh (no, we aren’t the big library in Oakland).
At the Carnegie Carnegie, we have a lot to offer. Our motto, “something for everyone,” means we truly take pride in serving a variety of people. Sometimes this means helping you find your next read, introducing you to a new band, teaching you about a different time period or even letting you rent our space for your event.
We not only have dedicated board members but also knowledgeable library staff and volunteers, a skilled children’s librarian, docents for our Espy Post, program attendants for the Music Hall and a marketing and communications intern.
Our small but motivated team is ready to serve the community in a different way this September at our annual benefit, HiFi: An Evening of Mid-Century Sound. We’ll be celebrating all night on Sept. 20, with a cocktail hour, a performance by the Half-Step All Stars and an after party.
It may feel weird to think about September already, but the summer season always goes so fast. It seems like everything after the Fourth of July is a downhill ride into fall, with many stores displaying school supplies shortly after the holiday.
For many, summer is a time for celebration, with concerts, parties, or a night inside with ice cream and air conditioning. But the fun doesn’t have to end just because the summer is starting to wind down. September will be here before you know it, which means so will our benefit.
The Carnegie Carnegie may best be known as the Library & Music Hall, but we’re also home to the Captain Thomas Espy Post, Lincoln Gallery and Studio. If you join us at our benefit, you may even run into some ghosts prepping for the spooky season (we’re hosting Whispering Souls Paranormal Ghost Hunters in October). This is not only going to be a memorable evening, but it will also be a reminder of our unique and historic space.
Better yet, it’s a great opportunity to see our space in a different light. After all, how many cocktail parties have you had in a library?
As many locals already know, we have been fundraising and restoring our building room by room over the past two decades. We’re happy to announce that in 2025, we plan to complete the Music Hall restoration.
While our hall remains functional — in 2023, we hosted 51 performances, supporting nearly 450 local performers and engaging 6,780 audience members — restoration will enhance the usability, comfort, safety and aesthetics of the space; something both audiences and performers can benefit from.
Upgrades will include new house lighting, plaster repair and fresh paint, a new stage floor and improved balcony seating. None of that matters, however, without the installation of an air conditioner which will allow for use the Music Hall year-round. That said, we’re renting a unit for our celebration, just in case things haven’t cooled off yet.
By attending our benefit and donating to the Carnegie Carnegie, you not only help us maintain our historic building and keep up our operations, but you also benefit. It is through the support of our patrons, that we can offer a variety of programs including author visits, concerts, story times, docent tours, lectures, kids’ clubs and more throughout the year.
We can’t do that unless people show interest and support.
HiFi tickets are on sale now, come celebrate with us on Sept. 20. Don’t miss out on the best seats in the house. Get all the details and your tickets today at showclix.com/tickets/hifi2024.
Jane Windsheimer is the marketing and communications intern at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.