History of the Library

About Us

The birth of the Mt. Lebanon Library in June, 1932 was celebrated by the whole community. Doors were officially opened on November 15, 1932, approximately six months after the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners were approached with the idea of starting a community library. Lions Club members proposed a no-cost library, and requested a room in the new Municipal Building on Washington Road. All books were to be donated by residents. Residents and civic groups supported the project and on “Library Day” handbills were posted, a sound truck broadcast the news, and Boy Scouts canvassed the community for more than 8, 000 books. Fortune magazine was donated that day and became the first periodical in the magazine section; National Geographic was added shortly thereafter.
The first Board was composed of three citizens at large and representatives of the Woman's Club of Mt. Lebanon, Civic League, Kiwanis Club, Woman's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon, South Hills College Club, Lions Club, American Legion, School Board and the Parent Teacher Association. The board was later incorporated as the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Association. The first librarian was Kathryn Peoples. The first year's circulation was 30, 162 books and the collection grew to 9,000 books. The first Story Hour for children was started in 1933.
The struggle to exist in the face of scant funds was eased in 1933 when the Commissioners approved $500 to support the library. By 1936 appropriations were increased to $2,500 and covered the librarians' salaries. Following Miss Peoples’ resignation that year, Miss Cleone McLaughlin was appointed Librarian. She held the position until 1938, when Ella (Mrs. John) Daub took over the reins.
Use of the library increased rapidly, and the library outgrew its original space. By 1939, the volunteer firemen had given two large rooms on the second floor in the front of the Municipal Building. Library hours increased to 56 hours a week. During World War II the library collected books for soldiers and by 1943 had forwarded 659 books to soldiers overseas.
By 1955, new voices called for a larger library. A special committee headed by John Nash sought a solution to the space problem. The committee issued a report recommending that the township purchase property for a library site, which would then be leased to the library. The Township purchased the site of the present building from the Alice B. McEwan estate for $25,000 and noted that it would provide the 16,000 square feet and the parking area suggested by the committee.
Local architect Arthur E. Tennyson designed a two-story colonial-style building with an estimated cost of $350,000 for the building and $75,000 for furnishings. The Commissioners approved the plan and a $475,000 bond issue was put on the ballot, but it was defeated in the November 1957 election.
The idea of a new building was not dead. In 1960, after a year-long study, the League of Women Voters of Mt. Lebanon determined that the library was inadequate. Hired library consultants Kaiser and Arthur Yabroff recommended that a separate and larger facility, adequate to hold 60,000 volumes, be built on land owned by the township across from Mellon Junior High School. They also recommended that the library become part of the township government.
The Mt Lebanon Public Library Association, which had governed the library for 30 years, endorsed the report and agreed to transfer all assets to the Township for the municipal library. Steps were taken to make the library an integral part of the Township government. The 17-member association was dissolved and the commissioners appointed a Library Board of 5 members to manage the library, which is governed by the Library Code of Pennsylvania.
Architect J. Russell Bailey was hired to plan the new facility. He estimated that a new building with 13,350 square feet completely equipped and with adequate parking space could be built for $315,000, far below the $475,000 proposed in 1957. The referendum for the new plan was overwhelmingly adopted. On December 28, 1963, the new library building was dedicated. Architect Bailey presented keys to the building to William B. Davidson, President of the Commission, and to Robert E. Lauterbaugh, Presiden of the Library Board. On January 27, 1964, the library opened to the public. Circulation for the day was 2,168. Within two years’ time it had reached the estimated 10th year circulation level.
In 1966, Ella Daub retired and Betty Anne Stroup became the Director. The library grew, adding a collection of phonograph records, a microfilm-based charging system, and a copy machine. It started homebound service, and increased its hours of opening. By 1975 annual circulation reached 363,000, the highest in the library's history. A third preschool storytime was added on Thursday mornings.
In 1977 library hours were reduced to contain costs, resulting in a circulation drop of 18,000. By 1981, circulation had recovered, reaching the second highest total ever at 358,637. There were now 100,000 catalogued items in the collection, including books, records, slides, filmstrips, 16 mm films, and 250 periodical subscriptions. That same year, an electric typewriter was purchased for public use. In 1984, Sunday hours were added to the library operating schedule.
Children's librarians took their popular storytimes to daycare centers, schools, and senior citizen centers. The Commission of Mt. Lebanon presented a resolution of commendation to artist Joe Servello for his beautifully painted murals of American folk heroes and heroines and historical clowns in the Children's Library.
Betty Anne Stroup, Library Director for 22 years, retired on July 2, 1988. She left the library with an excellent collection and high standards of service. Joan Bieri Raymond served as Acting Director until the search committee selected a new director, Peter Leonard. Peter officially assumed his duties on November 29, 1988.
By 1990, it was apparent that a larger facility was needed. Library supporters called for a new library and building project plans were developed. After consulting with an architect, library consultant, engineer, and municipal staff, the library estimated space needs at 26,539 square feet. A public presentation was held May 11. Plans called for the building to be erected on the present site, providing additional space for collections and seating, and putting all public service functions on one level
The Friends of the Library contributed $5,000 to start an endowment, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Fund, under the auspices of The Pittsburgh Foundation. The Library Board held its first successful Garden Tour to raise money for the Building Fund. Meanwhile, the library installed its automation system in December 1992 and issued new cards to patrons.
The Commission approved a 1993 municipal budget that included provisions for the library expansion, and selected the architectural firm of McCormick Associates to design the new library. The Commission issued a bond of $2.5 million to build the library. The library launched its capital campaign on January 24, 1994. Fundraising efforts included a book sale by the Friends of the Library, American Girl Fashion Shows and Tea parties, an Art Auction hosted by the Mt. Lebanon Junior Women's Club, and a Buy a Brick campaign. The municipality and school district set up payroll deduction programs. More than 4,000 donors contributed, and pledges surpassed $700,000. Additional funding came from the Allegheny Regional Asset District; Pennsylvania State legislative grants;the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation fund; and the Federal Library Service and Construction Act, Title II.
An easement agreement was reached with Southminster Church, allowing the library to expand on its present site by sharing Southminster's driveway and parking lot. Engineer Walter Heintzelman was hired as the municipality’s representative to oversee the expansion project and keep it on budget.
In May 1995, the Commissioners approved conditional use of the former Medical Rescue Team/South Building on Washington Road as temporary quarters for the library. The library closed August 23 for three weeks to allow for the transfer to the temporary facility. The temporary library offered a collection of about 50,000 volumes. Groundbreaking for the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Expansion was held October 5.
In April 1996, Peter Leonard resigned after 7 ½ years as Director to move to Cedar Mill Community Library, near Portland, Oregon. Assistant Director Joan Bieri Raymond served as Acting Director until September when Cynthia K. Richey was named Director. She had been Head of Children's Services. Judith Sutton, Children's librarian, became Head of Children's Services. After 25 years of service, Joan Bieri Raymond retired. She had served as assistant to former directors Betty Anne Stroup and Peter Leonard.
In February 1997, the library joined the EIN (Electronic Information Network) as a fully participating member, providing computer hardware and online information resources to patrons. The temporary library closed on April 12, 1997. Library staff moved into the new building, and with the help of volunteers and municipal staff, prepared for the opening of the expanded facility on June 21, 1997.
The new library opened to great fanfare, with County Commissioners declaring the 21st Mt. Lebanon Library Day in Allegheny County. The $4 million glass, brick, and aluminum structure contained three meeting rooms, four quiet study rooms, alcoves for casual reading, shelves for 140,000 books, seats for 165 persons, and more than 50 computers. The building won an architectural design award and was featured in the December architectural issue of Library Journal.
The new facility quickly became a magnet for residents, community groups, and civic organizations. More than 2,000 patrons signed up to learn how to use the computerized card catalog, and dozens of groups came for tours. The library increased its hours of operation by opening at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and continued its outreach programs at nursery schools, day care centers, extended day programs, classrooms, community centers, civic meetings, nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities.
The Friends was able to resume operation of the Twice Sold Tales Used Book Sale after a two-year hiatus, and the event raised more than $16,000. The 7th Annual garden Tour raised over $17,000. The community response to these efforts is one more indication of the strong support enjoyed by the library at grass roots level.
As the first full year in the new library, 1998 saw a tremendous increase in already healthy library usage. The business library was expanded, as was homebound delivery. The library formally identified four community roles, serving the community as: a popular materials library; preschooler’s door to learning; independent learner’s center; and formal education support center. The cost per resident for library services was $25.10, or about the price of a single hardcover book. Circulation reached 395,870 items and the collection totaled 135,245 at year’s end. The Garden Tour and Book Sale each raised $19,000 to augment the library budget. Funding appropriations were approximately 70% from the Municipality, 24% from ARAD, and 6% from the Commonwealth.
Circulation growth continued in 1999, reflecting an expanded business library, large print book, and unabridged audiobook as well as additions to the general collection. The Children’s Library benefited from a rearrangement of furniture and shelving. The community continued to take advantage of gallery and display space to showcase artistic talent and show off eclectic collections. The reference staff answered 31,455 questions, including the kind of salad served at a Roman banquet and facts about swimming the English Channel. Answers were found both in publications on the shelves or online over the Internet. Grant money totaling $27,000 from various sources funded a 12-week WWII presentation, development of a Readers’ Theater Troupe, and the establishment of a study resource center for student and adult learners.
The end of the millennium saw the completion of the library courtyard, an outdoor extension of the library undertaken by the Friends, suitable for formal programming and informal relaxing with a book or magazine. Circulation continued to climb as the library sought additional ways to serve all segments of the community. More than 30 booklists were produced to provide guidance to the collection. The always-strong programming ratcheted up several notches with special speakers, three film series, and the beginning of 6-week Discovery sessions on various topics. Babies from birth to 6 months were inducted into a Born to Read club while summer readers turned out 880 strong. A Saturday morning family radio program did a remote broadcast from the children’s library, with more than 200 individuals participating. Care was taken to provide assistive devices to allow those individuals with disabilities to reap their share of library offerings.
Throughout the decade the library had continued to take a leadership role with respect to county-wide cataloging functions. It provided meeting space for local civic, community and non-profit organizations, with stepped-up involvement in the work of the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, whose tutors help many local residents.
As 2000 came to a close, circulation figures for the library hit an all-time high, reaching over 445,000 items. This included the first DVDs to be bought for the collection. The ever-popular storytimes, chess clubs, song fests, summer reading, and holiday celebrations drew in the children, while book discussions, language groups, movie nights, gallery exhibits, and other quality programming appealed to adult tastes. Some of the programming came about through associations with such institutions as the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, The Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Carnegie, and local healthcare and civic organizations. Outreach to daycares, schools, and nursing and retirement homes complemented the on-site activities.
2001 and the 21st century found more of the same growth for the library. Circulation stood at 478,025 at year’s end. An average of 116 people visited the library each hour of operation. The library’s collection numbers 159,745 items, including books and audio-visual items. Special collections were enhanced, and a teen non-fiction collection and a circulating puppet collection were added. Over 1,300 programs for adults and children were offered, with more than 28,000 people in attendance. Seven different books groups now meet on the premises, as well as five foreign language conversation groups. The Discovery and film series continue to be popular as are various programs in sponsorship with museums and other organizations. The public continued to show its support through generous participation in the Garden Tour and Book Sale activities. The library looks forward to continuing its role as a central part of Mt. Lebanon, serving a variety of community needs as the new century unfolds.