Whitehall Public Library

Specialties

Whitehall Public Library, part of the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), is a public library serving residents of Whitehall Borough and the surrounding communities of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The library’s mission is to serve as the community resource for education, exploration, enrichment and enjoyment. The library provides resources and services from birth to infinity, with more than 60,000 collection items including books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, e-​content and databases, as well as 16 free public access computers. Whitehall Public Library was awarded two grants in 2010 from the Library Services and Technology Act (administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries) to create a Family Place Library and a Senior Space. Family Place Libraries support successful early literacy by providing resources and programs for parents and young children. The Senior Space, the Second Chapter Café, is multi-​functional space with special programming and resources.

History

Established in 1963.

Through a grassroots effort in the early 1960’s, Whitehall residents, including members of several of the borough’s women’s clubs, created the library. Whitehall Borough Council and the Whitehall Century Club held numerous discussions which resulted in the creation of the Friends of the Whitehall Library in the fall of 1961. The Borough agreed to provide space and operating funds, and the Friends were charged with purchasing new books. Over the next two years, through a door-​to-​door campaign, the Friends raised $ 20,000 for the library’s original collection, and the library opened in May of 1963.