Director
Robyn E. Vittek
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
PH: 412-531-1912
Email: vittekr@einetwork.net [1]
Mt. Lebanon Public Library is celebrating 90 years in the community. The library is part of the Allegheny County Library Association, which means your Mt. Lebanon library card is good at 74 libraries.
More Than Books
In addition to books, magazines, Blu-Rays, games and audiobooks, you can also check out free or discounted passes to cultural attractions, including the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center, Andy Warhol Museum and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. More information at www.radpass.org. [2]
Patrons can also check out Experience Kits for several locations. Experience Kits contain free admission for up to four people, along with multimedia information on the site. You can visit the Heinz History Center, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and the Fort Pitt Museum; Passavant House in Zelienople; the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum; Vicary Mansion in Beaver County; the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site; the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center and the Lincoln Highway Experience Kit offers activities in the Laurel Highlands.
Fine-Free
Like many libraries across the country and here in Allegheny County, Mt. Lebanon Public Library is eliminating fines for overdue materials.
In 2019, the American Library Association declared monetary fines “an economic barrier to access of library materials and services,” and issued a resolution urging libraries to actively move away from assessing fines, and urging government entities to strengthen library funding.
Fines on overdue materials accounted for less than 1 percent of the library’s budget. Libraries that have eliminated fines see around 95 percent of items returned within one week of the due date, which is not significantly different than the rate before making the change.
Going fine-free doesn’t mean you can just walk off with the stuff, though. If you keep a book for six weeks past the final due date, the library will bill you for it, and the cost of the replacement will stay on your record. If you owe $10 or more for any reason, you will not be permitted to borrow or renew materials, and you will lose access to e-resources and library databases.
Not all libraries in the Allegheny County Library Association are embracing the elimination of fines, so you could still be fined for late-returned items at other libraries.