Written by Jeffrey Widmar
When Maggie Forbes, a native of Long Island, first came to town, “I didn’t even know how to pronounce ‘Carnegie.’
“I do now, believe me,” she said.
Saying it’s time to move on, Forbes, 59, will leave her job as executive director of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library at the end of October. She has held the post for six years. It is not known who will replace her or when.
“It wasn’t a snap decision. I just looked back at the accomplishments we made and I decided that maybe this was the best time for me to move on, find something new to do. Whatever I do next, I know will be the ‘swan song’ in my career, so to speak. So whatever I land now, well, will probably be the last thing I do.”
Forbes leaves with the accolades of those who have worked with her to improve the library. Among the improvements: new seating in one of Forbes’ favorite places in the library, the music hall.
“I remember what it was like before we got (the new seats) and now I look around and sometimes I really can’t believe it. But it took a lot of hard work and dedication, not only from me, but from others. I will miss it,” Forbes said last week.
Library Director Diane Klinefelter has worked with Forbes for the past five years.
“I’ve learned so much from Maggie. She has done so much for the library and the music hall. Anyone who has lived in Carnegie during the time she has been here knows that. I’m sure she will be successful at whatever she does,” Klinefelter said.
Jeff Harbin has a unique perspective on Forbes. He has worked with her as both the borough’s police chief and, most recently, its manager.
“Maggie is one of those people who has the unique ability to walk into a room and immediately generate enthusiasm and optimism,” Harbin said. “The improvements over the years to the library and music hall made under her leadership have been nothing short of miraculous.”
The Chartiers Valley Partnership, a nonprofit organization formed by Carnegie High School alumni and other community leaders to restore the historic landmark library, hired Forbes, of Regent Square, as manager of an ambitious capital campaign.
At that time, the library and music hall needed repairs. The building’s concrete and sidewalks around it were cracked; some of the windows were decades old and needed replacing; and people with disabilities had no access.
Under Forbes’ direction, the campaign raised $7.5 million. The building is now structurally sound, weatherproof and accessible.
And the rare Civil War room upstairs, where veterans of the Captain Espy Post met from 1906 until the mid-1930s, opened to the public in 2010 following restoration.
Bill Manby, president of the Chartiers Valley Partnership and chairman of the capital campaign, said Forbes was the “perfect person to be at the helm all these years.”
“She brought heart, soul and know-how to the table. We’ve been on a remarkable journey together,” Manby said.
Jeff Widmer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-388-5810 or jwidmer@tribweb.com.