Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

Prime Stage Theatre presents "The Freedom House Ambulance Service: Putting Local History on the Stage"
2026-01-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join playwright L.E. McCullough of Prime Stage Theatre for the riveting story of Freedom House Ambulance Service, America’s first mobile EMS, created in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1967 – and a discussion of his new play Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance, running Jan. 23-Feb. 1, 2026 at New Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Against odds and adversity, the Black men of Freedom House saved countless lives while inventing an entirely new field of treatment that changed the world of emergency medicine.

Registration for this program is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome as well. Please click here to register.

Time Travelers Historical Fiction Book Club: "The Briar Club"
2026-01-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join our historical fiction book group! We explore different eras of history, share our thoughts and responses, and make new friendships as we share a different historical fiction title each month.

This group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 11:00am.

The title for this meeting will be The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. Copies of the book will be available at the Library’s checkout desk.

Registration is appreciated, but not required – please click here to register.

From the Foxhole: Talks with Carnegie's Veterans
2026-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Carnegie is home to over 500 veterans. How well do you know them?

Join us for the launch of our new quarterly series, “From the Foxhole: Talks with Carnegie’s Veterans.” Veteran and military researcher Richard Murphy shares live, unscripted conversations with the veterans of our area about their experiences while serving.

Today, we’ll talk with US Army veteran Effie Snyder.

Veterans and non-veterans are welcome. Ages 18+ only, please. Registration is not required.

Pongal Sangamam: A Multicultural Tamil Harvest Celebration
2026-01-17 11:00 - 13:00 | 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, Pennsylvania, 15106, United States
பொங்கலோ பொங்கல்! All are Welcome!

We invite you to join us on Saturday, January 17th for a family-friendly, multicultural Pongal celebration! Registration for this program is appreciated but not required.

Click here to RSVP for this event!

What is Pongal?

Pongal is an indigenous Tamil harvest festival celebrated by Tamils throughout southern India, Sri Lanka, and the worldwide Tamil diaspora. Celebrated over four days, it is a time for communities to come together to honor both nature and agriculture’s bountiful harvests and share in traditional foods, rituals, and art.

How will we celebrate at this event?

Read about Pongal with Persis Naumann, Fulbright scholar and founder of multicultural, bilingual Tamil book publisher Kelir Books

Learn the steps to a traditional dance, as well as a bilingual song in English and Tamil

Enjoy traditional foods

Make Pongal-inspired art such as your very own clay Pongal pot, a sugar scrub, and DIY Pongal stamp art

And much more!

Meeple Meet-Up: Euro-Gaming for Adults
2026-01-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Do you like Terraforming Mars? Settlers of Catan? Agricola? Ark Nova? Or other “Euro” or Euro-flavored strategy games with wooden meeples, worker placement, tableau building, and so forth? Come to the Library for an afternoon of board gaming!

You can also come if you are interested in learning how to play Euro board games.

This event is for gamers ages 18+.

Registration is not required to attend, but it is recommended, and those who register will get a link to our Discord server for any pre-game day discussions or suggestions. Please click here to register!

Palestine: History, Culture, and Faith
2026-01-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join Ray Milhem for an exploration of the land of Palestine, holy to the world’s three great monotheistic religions. Come learn about the distinct geographic regions of Palestine; how language and culture have defined its inhabitants; and the millennia-old history of this region, from prehistory to the modern day.

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register!

Community Blood Drive with Vitalant
2026-01-28 11:00 - 16:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Be part of the solution with Vitalant’s community blood drive!

We’re wishing our donors a prosperous 2026! To give you a head start, 26 will win a special thank-you gift. Your donation gets you 26 chances to win a $500 Rewards gift card! (Opt-in required – see more details here.)

Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Click here to reserve an appointment slot.

Questions? Please call Kathy from Vitalant at 412-444-6563.

Carnegie Modular Railroaders present: Kevin Davis of the Lionel Collectors Club of America
2026-01-31 13:30 - 15:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Please note: due to the weather, this event will take place entirely on Zoom. When you register, you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting. Thank you!

Join the Carnegie Modular Railroaders for a special guest event with Kevin Davis, President-Elect of the Lionel Collectors Club of America!

Kevin will share his experiences and lessons learned from building over 100 model railroad modules. We’ll learn more about getting started with model railroading; discuss family and kids’ involvement in the hobby; and share some pointers on layout design and construction basics. A Q&A will follow – bring your curiosity and questions!

This is a Zoom meeting. All ages are welcome. Please click here to register.

The Carnegie Modular Railroaders meet one or two Saturdays a month at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall. For more information, please contact Nick Yackovich at 412-667-0929 or nicholas.yackovich@comcast.net.

NEW DATE – “That Beast Was Not Me”: An author visit with Jeffrey Smalldon
2026-02-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Jeffrey Smalldon has shared conversations with some of the most notorious murderers in modern American history – including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy, to name a few. He has evaluated more than 1,000 murderers and consulted on close to 300 death penalty cases, and has appeared on 60 Minutes II, Larry King Live, 48 Hours, Good Morning America, and Connie Chung Tonight.

Tonight, he presents stories from his memoir, That Beast Was Not Me: One Forensic Psychologist, Five Decades of Conversations with Killers. Join us to hear about his fascinating five decades immersed in the world of true crime. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event from Woolly Bear Books and Gifts.

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register.

Fluent Friends: Practice Speaking English with Literacy Pittsburgh
2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-02-19 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-03 10:00 - 11:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join our open-to-all English Conversation Practice Group — a friendly and welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can come together to practice speaking English in a relaxed, supportive environment. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, this group is about building confidence, improving fluency, and connecting with others through conversation. No pressure, no judgment — just real talk and real people. Everyone is welcome!

This group meets every first Tuesday of the month from 10:00-11:30am, and every third Thursday of the month from 5:30-7:00pm. Registration is not required — just drop in!

Selah Labyrinth Meditation Walk
2026-02-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join members of Carnegie Presbyterian Church’s New Hope Worship Center for an open meditation walk through the church’s Selah Labyrinth. Journey inward through a contemplative walk through the labyrinth’s twists and turns into the center and back out again, in a process similar to a spiritual or personal exploration. This event is beginner-friendly and non-denominational.

All ages are welcome, but we ask that guests maintain a calm and quiet demeanor while navigating the labyrinth.

No registration is necessary – please drop in any time between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM!

Free Legal Advice Clinic with the Allegheny County Bar Foundation's Pro Bono Center
2026-02-10 16:30 - 18:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Please note that the date of this program has changed from January 29 to February 10.

Join us for a Free Legal Advice Clinic on Tuesday, February 10th, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM!

Attorneys from the Allegheny County Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Center will be available for thirty-minute appointments to provide free legal advice.

To request an appointment, please call the library directly at 412-276-3456, or email Library Director Walker Evans. Please be prepared to share your name, contact information, and the topic of your legal questions.

Spots are limited, so don’t wait to schedule your appointment! We look forward to seeing you on February 10th!

Get to Know Ramadan!
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join members of the Attawheed Islamic Center for a fun exploration of Ramadan! You’ll learn about the history of this important month, the significance of the Quran in Ramadan, the effects of fasting, and a day in the life of a Muslim during Ramadan. Come learn about this period observed by over two billion people worldwide.

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register!

Ukulele Strum-Along
2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Come strum with us! Join Amber Rozel of Steel City Ukuleles for a free introduction to the simple, versatile instrument known as the ukulele. Learn just a few simple chords, and you’ll be able to play hundreds of songs – no prior experience needed, and you don’t need to own your own ukulele! Meet other uke-enthusiasts and join our strum-along group!

The event will start with a special lesson for first-timers at 6:00 PM, followed by a more advanced Beginner+ lesson from 6:45-7:15. If you already know your way around a ukulele, join us from 7:15-8:00 for our group jam!

This group is intended for teens and adults. Registration is appreciated – please click here to register!

Paperback Platoon Book Club: "The Man I Never Met"
2026-02-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Calling all women veterans and family members: join us to connect with other women through a love of reading!

Paperback Platoon is a book club for women filled with veterans, service members, and their families. Our goal is to build connection with each other through a shared interest and love for reading. This group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 PM.

Our title for this meeting will be “The Man I Never Met” by Elle Cook. Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the Library’s circulation desk.

Join our BookClubs.com page or our Facebook group for more details or to register!

Civil War Gaming: Brothers at War - Antietam
2026-02-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join Pittsburgh wargamers Paul Lawson and Brian Palmer for a free introduction to historical tabletop wargaming! Command your troops and experience the strategy and tactics of the battles that determined our nation’s future.

Today we play through the Antietam scenario of the game Brothers at War. Brothers at War is a medium-complexity wargame designed by Christopher Moeller and suitable for ages 14+. No experience is necessary. Please join us!

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register.

2nd Saturday Civil War Series: Faces of Civil War Nurses - Portraits, Photography, and the Making of Caregiving History, with Ron Coddington
2026-02-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
In Person in the Lincoln Gallery at ACFL&MH

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9370579279Meeting ID: 937 057 9279

Portrait photographs of women who served as caregivers offer rare, powerful evidence of how Americans understood nursing during the Civil War. These images—made possible by rapidly evolving photographic technology—capture not only grit and determination, but intention: how women presented themselves, how they wished to be seen, and how caregiving entered the visual record of war. By studying these portraits alongside contemporary writing and context, this presentation explores what these women wore, why they served, and how photography helps us rethink who qualified as a Civil War nurse.

Ron Coddington began collecting Civil War–era portrait photography as a teenager, launching a lifelong pursuit to uncover images of men and women and tell their stories. His research has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and a series of books published by Johns Hopkins University Press, including Faces of Civil War Nurses, which inspired this traveling exhibit. His most recent book is Gettysburg Faces (Gettysburg Publishing). Ron is the editor and publisher of Military Images, a quarterly magazine founded in 1979 and dedicated to the study and preservation of historic photographs. He has more than 40 years of experience as a journalist at USA TODAY, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The San Jose Mercury News, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Embracing Our Differences: "We Humans" at 70
2026-02-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join us for community conversations about diversity & inclusion!

“We Humans” was an exhibit on race and racism developed by two former curators of anthropology at the Carnegie Museum. Through punchy rhetoric informed by then-current science, the exhibit encouraged workers, students, and citizens to question their assumptions about race and to value the lives and contributions of all people. It debuted in downtown Pittsburgh in 1955.

To mark the seventieth anniversary of the debut of “We Humans,” scholar Deirdre Madeleine Smith has organized an exhibit sharing and interpreting its history on view at Hillman Library on the University of Pittsburgh campus through July 2026. Tonight, Smith will offer an overview of “We Humans” at 70, and invite conversation about what the ambitions and shortcomings of “We Humans” have to teach audiences in Pittsburgh today.

Audiences are encouraged to view “We Humans” at 70 before this evening’s discussion. The exhibit is on the 3rd floor of Hillman Library (accessible by stairs or elevator) at 3960 Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh. Hours for the Hillman Library can be found here. Read more about this exhibit in Carnegie Museums Magazine.

Deirdre Madeline Smith is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at University of Pittsburgh with a joint appointment as a curator at Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Registration is appreciated – please click here to register.

Time Travelers Historical Fiction Book Club: "The Lions of Fifth Avenue"
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join the Library’s historical fiction book group! We’ll explore different eras of history, share our thoughts and responses, and make new friendships as we share a different historical fiction title each month.

This group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 11:00am.

The title for this meeting will be The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fionna Davis. Copies of the book will be available at the Library’s checkout desk.

Registration is appreciated, but not required – please click here to register.

Postural Tips and Tricks, with ComForCare and Carson Eldercare Consulting & Management
2026-02-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join Laura Carson of Carson Eldercare Consulting & Management and Michelle Pekich of ComForCare to learn all about a common culprit of back pain: your posture! Learn how to maintain good posture as you age, thereby reducing the need for assistive devices and helping to prevent falls. We’ll explore some of the common imbalances that lead to forward head and neck posture, and also how to alleviate these and even reverse them.

Laura will also share some postural stretches and proper ergonomics to help keep your shoulders and head in proper alignment. Plus, attendees will have an opportunity to experience Laura’s massage chair.

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register!

Critical Thinking Unplugged: A Community Conversation on Truth, Trust, and Technology
2026-02-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
How do we know what to believe in a world of fake news, AI, and information overload?

Join Vernée Smith of the Unplugged Society, news producer Alex Popichak, and librarian Walker Evans as we talk about social media, chatbots, and who defines our shared reality.

What to expect:

Guided discussion on fake news, AI, and misinformation

Small-group conversations using critical thinking prompts

Group chat and community-building

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register.

Meeple Meet-Up: Euro-Gaming for Adults
2026-02-28 12:00 - 16:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Do you like Terraforming Mars? Settlers of Catan? Agricola? Ark Nova? Or other “Euro” or Euro-flavored strategy games with wooden meeples, worker placement, tableau building, and so forth? Come to the Library for an afternoon of board gaming!

You can also come if you are interested in learning how to play Euro board games.

This event is for gamers ages 18+.

Registration is not required to attend, but it is recommended, and those who register will get a link to our Discord server for any pre-game day discussions or suggestions. Please click here to register.

Carnegie Modular Railroaders
2026-02-28 13:30 - 15:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Join the Carnegie Modular Railroaders, an all-ages group for anyone interested in model railroading! The mission of the Carnegie Modular Railroaders is to inspire and educate model railroaders of all ages through hands on learning, collaborative layout building, and shared exploration of the hobby.

The Carnegie Modular Railroaders meet one or two Saturdays a month at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall. For more information, please contact Nick Yackovich at 412-667-0929 or nicholas.yackovich@comcast.net.

All ages are welcome. Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Please click here to register.

Knife Sharpening with Dennis Snedden: Whetstone Tips, Tools, & Techniques
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Look sharp – it’s a hands-on workshop on sharpening and caring for your knives! A well-sharpened edge is much safer and more effective than a dull one, and with a little guidance, anyone can learn to keep their knife edges in excellent condition. Experienced sharpener Dennis Snedden will teach participants how to keep their own knives sharp and ready to use.

Each participant should bring two or three 5″-10″ kitchen knives (non-serrated); a diamond, oil, or water stone (if you have one); a honing rod or steel (if you have one); your knife edge questions; and a will to learn! You will learn the best and safest techniques for honing a fine edge. Come with dull knives – leave with safer, sharper, functional edges!

No ceramic knives, hair or sewing scissors, please.

A suggested donation of $15 will be put towards funding the 2026 kids’ Summer Reading Program. Space is limited, so please click here to register! 18 years and older, please.

"Rovina's Choice": Documentary Screening & Discussion with Former USAID Workers
2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is pleased to screen the 2025 documentary Rovina’s Choice: a film about a mother’s impossible choice at the intersection of war, hunger, and politics.

Through the plight of one woman trying to save her daughter from starvation, Rovina’s Choice traces the effects of the January 2025 elimination of US foreign aid programs. The loss of these programs is estimated to cause the deaths of over 14 million people by the year 2030. The film will be introduced by Beth Cameron, Senior Adviser to the Brown Pandemic Center and former Special Assistant to the President on the White House National Security Council staff.

Following the film, a panel of former USAID staff will discuss the cuts to life-saving aid and share some of their experiences working in the field of global humanitarianism. Light refreshments will be provided.

This is a free program. Registration is requested – please click here to register.

Paperback Platoon Book Club: "We Used to Live Here"
2026-03-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Calling all women veterans and family members: join us to connect with other women through a love of reading!

Paperback Platoon is a book club for women filled with veterans, service members, and their families. Our goal is to build connection with each other through a shared interest and love for reading. This group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 PM.

Our title for this meeting will be “We Used to Live Here” by Marcus Kliewer. Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the Library’s circulation desk.

Join our BookClubs.com page or our Facebook group for more details or to register!

Craft Night at the Movies with Carnegie Crafters: "Mary Poppins" (1964)
2026-03-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA, 15106, United States
Calling all knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, and fiber artists of every kind! Come join the Carnegie Crafters! We share advice and inspiration, chat with new friends, and work on our projects in a supportive group setting.

Tonight, join us for a Craft Night at the Movies! Enjoy crafting while we watch Mary Poppins (1964), with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the movie will start at 7:00 PM.

No craft? No problem! You are welcome to join, but keep in mind that that the lights will be on. Please email carnegiecrafters@gmail.com with any questions.

Registration is not required – all are welcome!
