Free Events at Downtown Carnegie Library: A Conversation with Shayna Ross
Written by Emma Schramm
Image courtesy of Nevaeh Williams
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s (CLP) Downtown branch offers residents so much more than just good reads. From book clubs to career advice to community resources, the library is a hub for free, accessible activities happening Downtown.
I spoke with Shayna Ross, CLP Coordinator for Adult Services, to learn about the planning behind branch events. “A lot of our programs come from listening to the community and are based on their interests. We do our best to actually hear from the staff or patrons who submit online forms, email forms, or give us a call,” Ross explained.
Book clubs are just some of the free events CLP – Downtown is proud to host. On April 8, they’re holding a meeting of the Three Rivers Readers Book Club, which dives into books by Pittsburgh authors. There’s also a Cookbook Club! “They talk about the theme, the story behind the author, and sometimes even bring in snacks from a local eatery or do potluck-style food,” Ross said.
CLP – Downtown also gives great career advice with their Job and Career series. The topic this week is Transferrable Skills, where you’ll learn how to navigate a career change and market the value of your existing skills. Ross noted that staff are always available to “help sit down with you and talk through your career goals” outside of these events too.
Another really great program is Let’s Speak English, a weekly group for English language learners to practice their speaking in a supportive, educational environment. Continuing that series, CLP – Downtown also holds Let’s Read English, which chooses an English short story to read and discuss as a group each lesson.
But what’s in store for the future of events at CLP – Downtown? “Well, there’s the NFL Draft,” Ross laughs. “When we know something is coming up, we do try to be responsive in our programming.”
So, the library will be hosting a workshop run by Cue Perry, a local artist and former athlete, that explores the symbolism of NFL team logos. Local author Mark Fatla will also be stopping by to give a talk on the history of Pittsburgh’s stadiums and arenas.
“Because our library is free for all, we want our events to reflect that. The library acts like a third space between home and work, another place where you can feel like yourself,” ends Ross.
CLP – Downtown is located at 612 Smithfield St, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The library is closed on Sundays. Happy (free) exploring!
