Welcome!

[Rob]

Hello, All!

Welcome to this group, feel free to post about anything related to the library, or the books you're getting from the Carnegie. Also, it would be cool if you said which is your "home" library.

For me, that's Downtown and Business, where I'm notorious for hitting 50 items on a fairly regular basis. :)

-Trebby

[Mark]

Well, how can I ignore a Pittsburgh group, even if one interesting member is in a much hipper place. My home libraries are Downtown/Main/Squirrel Hill, depending on my trips, even though distancewise from home it should technically be East Liberty, but I haven't been there in years, mainly because the selection is so sparse.

I've added most of the books I have clear memories and records of from recent years, and now I'm starting to venture into murkier territory -- books I want to read, books I've read but have no memory of, books I've bought and what was I thinking, etc. etc.

While I'm thinking of it, I ought to post both Out of This Furnace and Valley of Decision to get some classic Pittsburgh novels on the site ...

[Roberta]

My home library is Beechview. I LOVE the staff there. The best thing about the Carnegie is that you can get ANYTHING from ANYWHERE. I am a huge fan of the Interlibrary Loan. I've gotten things from Alaska, Wisconsin, all of the place - and it's all FREE! What a deal! My niece, who lives out near Philly, is so jealous of our library system.

[Rob]

Welcome, Mark!

Since you work there, can you please ask the Post-Gazette (from whom I get my daily online news) to put their site back to something that doesn't look like it belongs on MySpace? :)

Seriously, glad to have you here--we may have bumped into each other downtown, as that's the branch I use, too (only one block from work). I'm using goodreads about the same as you--posting my reviews for stuff since I started reviewing and then short bits of things I've read in years past, as they come to mind.

For Pgh books, there's a new walking tour book I'm hoarding from the library you should check out, giving some neat public art features about town. I think I may have to get a copy for myself.

-Rob

[Rob]

Beechview is my other library when I'm not using Downtown for holds. :)

Welcome to the group, and yeah, ILL is great. I never thought I'd get to read that CS Lewis book, and they found it for me!

-Rob

[Mark]

The Web redesign has been a trip. I think it trying to create a cleaner, simpler look with less clutter and more links off the home page to other pages, they've met their goal. But whereas the newsroom folks wanted to parallel test the new design for a week before opening it to the public, the top executive insisted on a drop-dead release date, and that has left us with an unpolished looking product, I'm afraid. The big goal now is to get the body type on the home page in a larger font that doesn't make it look so amateurish. Also, a key feature that hasn't been unveiled yet is that soon, every major article will have an accompanying bio of the writer plus other links that may be relevant to the story.

[Rob]

I figured that wasn't the finished product. :)

The bios and extra links will be a nice addition.

I have to say, all in all, that I have always liked the P-G's web content, especially since I'm just not good with reading a newspaper consistently every day. (When I try, they tend to back up.) If they ever went to subscribed content, I would most likely pay for extra, assuming it was reasonable.

[Leah]

Hello all, I'm new to goodreads and I absolutely love it! My home library is Carnegie Main, mostly because I work in Oakland.

[Rob]

Hi Leah, welcome to the group! I used to use Carnegie Main when it was on my home from work--I could get lost in those stacks forever...

-Rob

[Patty Almasy]

Hi, all. I seem to be further away - Home library is Coraopolis, but also frequent Moon Township and Sewickley. Just wanted to say hello!

[Rob]

Hi Patty, good to have you here! -Rob

[Candace]

Hello. I live in Washington Co. (though I miss the city) , and my main libraries are Carnegie Main, downtown, and Peters Township.

[Rob]

I used to use Peters library, I read quite a bit of their drama section, back in the day. it is a very nice community library!

-Rob

[Liddy]

Hi everybody - how fun to find a Pittsburgh group. I love the Carnegie Library too; the Main and East Liberty branches are about equidistant from home for me. I work right next door to the Downtown branch, so I usually return everything there, even though their selection is much more limited for check-outs.

Rob, what's the title of the walking tour book you mentioned upthread? Last year I actually considered writing a Pittsburgh walking tour book ... looks like somebody beat me to it!

[Rob]

Hi Liddy,

Don't forget you can request and have held anything from the entire system...i get a lot of stuff sent to me at the downtown library. :)

The book was called, "Pittsburgh art in public places : downtown walking tour" and was produced by the Tourism office. It's a nice way to enjoy a sunny late summer afternoon, which is what my friends and I did.

-Rob

[Jonathan]

I just got a new library card and checked out "No Country for Old Men" from the Brookline branch, which was renovated not long after I moved to Brookline. I'm resolved to make better use of the library. (My 2-year-old loves the books we've checked out for her.)

[Rob]

I haven't gone in to see the new Brookline library yet, which is a shame because I used to use that one when I lived there.

Man, when I was a kid, I loved the library--probably where I first got my addiction to them. :)

-Rob

[Mary Anne]

Greetings, everyone. I use the Downtown branch, but love the Main library the best.
I just found this Goodreads website because another web group that I have been part of for years, Constant Readers, recently moved here. They're a great group.

MAP

[Rob]

I was wondering if there might be any CR folks up here near me, so this answers the question. :)

For the rest of you, Constant Readers is an online book discussion group that set up shop here since their own web site's having some issues. They do 2 books a month, one newer, one classic, a weekly poem that's posted, and also short stories.

I've had a lot of fun since signing up and also got to read some things I might not have otherwise. Definitely worth a look if you're up for that sort of thing.

-Rob

[Robbie]

Hello,

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I am much more of a book buyer than a library user. My husband usually goes to the Squirrel Hill branch with the kids. They all really love the renovations done within the past few years. Interestingly, my husband and I met for a late dinner picnic on the roof/entrance of the older version of that building when we first started dating. It reminded him of the brief time he lived in NYC.

Rob, I, too, loved the library as a kid. I lived in a small rural area in Michigan, and I remember how excited I was to get my first library card at age 5! As I grew older, the librarian used to save books for me that she thought I'd like.

[Rob]

Oh, I buy books, too--just ask my girlfriend about that! :)

welcome to the list!

-rob

[Jonathan]

Don't be embarrassed. I recently checked out my first library book in years.

[Rachael]

I'm not much of a library goer either. I'm such a book buying addict.

[Julie]

Hi All,

I love hearing everyone's Pittsburgh stores! Have any of you read Jerome Bettis'memoir, The Bus?

[Rachael]

I haven't read The Bus yet but I plan on it. I have so many books I want to read.

[Bianca]

Hello! :) I'm a recent member to Good Reads and a fairly new resident of Pittsburgh as well... my home library would be Mt. Lebanon, but I'm sure I'll be using the downtown branch most often. My main book source has been through friends, we just read 'em and swap! :)

[Robbie]

Hi, Bianca:
Welcome to Goodreads and welcome to Pittsburgh! What brought you to both of these places? I'm a Pittsburgh transplant myself. I've found the city and this website to be lots of fun.

[Mark]

I second Robbie's welcome, Bianca. As sometimes happens in the Web community, I guess, it turned out that Jonathan and Robbie were people I knew from the "offline" parts of my life and we got reacquainted here.

For all of you who have been mentioning your library branches, I must say that my most vivid childhood memories, growing up in rural Ohio, were the Bookmobile. Entering a walk-in van saturated with the aroma of books was heaven.

Later, when we moved to Cincinnati and I was in high school, I remember equally well walking into the downtown library there for the first time and feeling it was immense.

A couple years ago, on a trip to NYC, my wife and I had to rest our dogs after walking around Manhattan and before it was time for our theater performance, and so we did it at the library, lounging in that wonderful green lampshade reading room. I wanted to fall asleep from the warm air after doing all that walking, but there were too many interesting reference books to look at :)

I too am a profligate book buyer, but I am trying to use the library more and more as a matter of responsible use of resources, and I do find that the electronic reservation system is a wonderful innovation. Nevertheless, I have discount cards for both B&N and Borders, so I am not morally pure yet.

[Bianca]

I have family close to Pittsburgh (but not too close!) in Cleveland and Harrisburg. But what ultimately brought me here was a job offer after I graduated. And I found this site from an online friend, Meg. Thanks for the warm welcome! :)

[Tearsa]

Hello everyone!

I am also new to goodreads and pittsburgh. i have only been to the carnegie library in oakland, but i'm curious to learn about other areas that have really good selections, as i've heard before.

i also find myself buying books a lot. the bookstore is right under my dorm, and everytime i go in there i make a new purchase! i also borrow books from friends and borrow from the library. what happens often (like right now) is i grow this pile of books to read and i have to return some without reading them.


as a child [not that i'm not still one now, to some of you] i remember walking to the local library and staying there for hours, searching and searching for delightful titles. i'd leave with about fifteen books and begin as soon as i got home. in fourth grade, i was basically reading a book everyday. i would have them finished in a week and a half. i wish i could still have the time for that!

i'm excited to share my experiences with books with all of you!

[Rob]

Welcome, Tearsa!

You actually have two good libraries to choose from, if I'm right that you're a Pitt student. :)

The best part of Carnegie is that you don't have to go to those other libraries, they'll bring all the books to you--just go in to the catalog and request it.

-Rob

[Rachael]

I finally got myself a library card. Sadly, not from Carnegie because I don't live that close to Pittsburgh.

[Artnoose]

Hi all. I just moved to Pittsburgh in October and just recently joined goodreads. I've been staying on the North Side, which of course doesn't have a library, so the closest one has been the downtown branch. I'm about to move out to East Lib, which has a pretty small branch library but thank gosh for inter-library loans! I've got a lot of China Mieville and Sherman Alexie books on my to-read list at the moment.

[Rob]

Welcome, Artnoose. What brings you to town?

-Rob

[Deborah]

Hi - I'm Deb. I joined goodreads in Oct. 2007. Although I'm not a native Pittsburgher, I've lived here for almost 37 years, so I think my transplant definitely took root! I rediscovered the CPL a few years ago when it became clear to me that, if I kept buying books, I'd have to buy a bigger house! I love my little house, so I checked out (sic) the library. Love that state-of-the-art online system! It makes every branch my local! Since we live in Park Place (near Regent Square), my local is the Squirrel Hill branch. The CPL's commitment to renovation and innovation makes me even more proud of Pittsburgh as a city.

[MaryAnn]

I am new to BookReads and wonder what took me so long to find it. I am an addicted reader, a frustrated librarian and a sexegenarian(look it up!)

I live in the northern part of Allegheny County, so my home and favorite library is the NorthernTier (Richland township) on Dickey Road. It is a lovely place to read.

I think the Carnegie system and the van system are the best use of my tax dollars there is. I constantly am getting books, audio books, etc., from other libraries.

I also volunteer at my library on Wed. mornings, so if you are in the area, drop in and see us.

[Shannon]

Roberta wrote: "My home library is Beechview. I LOVE the staff there. The best thing about the Carnegie is that you can get ANYTHING from ANYWHERE. I am a huge fan of the Interlibrary Loan. I've gotten things ..."
I lived across the street from this library--I pretty much lived in it! I was a certified volunteer there from 1999-2002. You're right, the staff is really nice! I got a letter of recommendation for college from Jan. I LOVE THAT PLACE!

[Holly]

I'm so happy to find Pittsburgh Goodreaders!

My library is Bethel Park, but I have to say that I buy the majority of my books. I'm terrible. I dog-ear pages and highlight good quotes, soak in the tub while reading (one of my favorites).

[Anya]

My neighborhood library is the Northland Public Library, but because it is rather small on language and travel books, most of them I pick up at Carnegie library in Oakland :)
What a wonderful library system we have though?!

[Anya]

* Shock *
As I wrote this I realized that i left my library card at Northland about 4 months ago! I checked books out, and was able to extend and return them, but I've yet to reclaim my card. i've been out of the country so long! It's funny, but I was using one of the retired carnegie books while in Italy....this library is truly global!