Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh https://www.carnegielibrary.org/ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:34:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 Lookalike Book Fakes and Disinformation https://www.carnegielibrary.org/lookalike-book-fakes-and-disinformation/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/lookalike-book-fakes-and-disinformation/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:34:44 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=382042 Lookalike Book Fakes and Disinformation false Lookalike Book Fakes and Disinformation || With the boom in tools that use Large Language Models to train AI, such as Chat GPT, also … Continued

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  • With the boom in tools that use Large Language Models to train AI, such as Chat GPT, also comes a boom in false and misleading advertisements and products that are produced by AI. One big issue that libraries are dealing with is the proliferation of books written with AI. Not only are these books harming the livelihood and reputations of the authors they imitate, but they also have the potential to be physically harmful, as is the case with books on wild foraging full of misinformation on eating wild plants that could be imparting deadly advice.

    Because one of our goals with our collections is to “emphasize truthful and trustworthy information, fighting all forms of disinformation, censorship, and barriers to free inquiry” we will be extra careful in selecting our materials in print and digital to avoid these types of AI-generated items. But how can you spot them? The Today Show has a short segment with the salient facts and background.

    In today’s world it is more important than ever to protect yourself against disinformation and scams like these fake books. Luckily, there are organizations working to educate everyone about how to be more savvy, and the Library is hosting two free events to do just that! On March 19th at CLP – Knoxville and on April 23rd at CLP – Brookline, you can learn with the University of Pittsburgh’s Disinformation Lab about how to spot fake news.

     

    You can sign up for a free library card here.

    If you are new to our eResources, check out these tutorial videos on how to get started.

    If you’re looking for more book suggestions, we’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Book Recommendation form to send us some information about what you like to read and we’ll curate a list just for you.

    If you have any additional questions, you can contact a librarian through Facebook, Instagram or X. You can also call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org.

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    Inspired by You! https://www.carnegielibrary.org/inspired-by-you/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/inspired-by-you/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:25:17 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=379838 Inspired by You! false Inspired by You! ||   You inspire the work we do every day here at the Library and the work that is yet to come. Our … Continued

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    You inspire the work we do every day here at the Library and the work that is yet to come. Our new strategic plan will serve as our guiding beacon for the next five years, charting a path toward a brighter and more inclusive future.

    We created this together. Thoughtfully developed with you, this plan is a result of a year-long process that tapped the hopes, dreams and ideas of thousands of our neighbors. Our Board of Trustees contributed their expertise and support, and library staff brought their knowledge of the realities of our work and our experiences.  

    Your response on how to best allocate our resources and steer our course forward was nothing short of incredible. You told us that you love your library and want more of it. We heard the need and desire for the Library to be responsive with additional hours, especially being open in the evenings. We heard the need for the Library to be more connected with programming that represents the entire community. And, we heard the need for the Library to create more opportunities for working with other mission-aligned community organizations to support each other’s work.  

    And, we listened.

    Inspired by you, our neighbors, CLP’s new 2024-2028 strategic plan focuses on community connections, responsive services, regional cooperation and organizational excellence. We articulated IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) as our foundational practices—those principles on which all of the Library’s work must be based, built, informed and influenced. This plan has something that our last plan didn’t have, the articulation of our core services—what our library does and can do for our neighbors.  I’m really proud these are included in a prominent way, because I believe in the vital work we do through our collections, programs, spaces and people. 

    I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you who participated in determining the future of our beloved Library. Your input has been instrumental in shaping our vision for the future, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. We’re committed to keeping this conversation going so CLP continues to be a place that fosters literacy, enables exploration and creates connections.  

    Thanks again, and I’ll see you at the Library! 

     

    Andrew Medlar's signature

    Andrew Medlar
    President & Director
    Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

    Andrew Medlar in CLP - Main Stacks

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    Expanded Hours Starting March 10! https://www.carnegielibrary.org/expanded-hours-march2024/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/expanded-hours-march2024/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:44:29 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=378480 Expanded Hours Starting March 10! false Expanded Hours Starting March 10! || Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan is inspired by you, our Library users! One request we … Continued

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  • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan is inspired by you, our Library users!

    One request we heard loud and clear during our Strategic Plan research was the community’s desire for additional open hours, especially in the evenings. Whether you’re hankering to pick up your next hold, want to try out pajama storytime with your little one, or just need a few more hours of dedicated work time, we’re here for you. That’s why we’re excited to announce expanded hours at CLP locations across the city beginning on Sunday, March 10. See the full schedule below!

    We’re looking forward to welcoming families, adults, students and other users who will benefit from the new schedule.

    Hope to see you soon!

     

    Peach-colored chart of CLP's spring 2024 expanded hours

     

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    Introducing the Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Initiative https://www.carnegielibrary.org/vivian-ann-davidson-hewitt-initiative/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/vivian-ann-davidson-hewitt-initiative/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2024 20:20:23 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=379649 Introducing the Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Initiative false Introducing the Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Initiative ||   Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt was Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s first Black librarian and … Continued

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    Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt was Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s first Black librarian and worked at CLP from 1944-1949.  In addition to her pioneering work as a librarian, Hewitt loved, collected, and generously shared art and supported African American artists and collectors. As the introduction to her autobiography notes, Hewitt and her husband “saw art collecting as a way to create a public resource that would educate and engage others to appreciate and collect art.” While Hewitt’s rich and dynamic legacy—as well as her Pittsburgh and CLP ties—have been celebrated locally, nationally, and internationally, the Library has the opportunity to shape a series of initiatives in her name that we hope will add to her lasting impact.

    The goal of these initiatives is to honor the work, legacy, and leadership of Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt by increasing CLP’s resources and capacity related to the following:

    • Celebrating Black culture and the legacy of Black librarianship;
    • Cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment for BIPOC staff and community members;
    • And co-creating with community practices that increase accessibility to the library and the field of librarianship.

    As an initial step in the development of this work, CLP participated in Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh, a multi-organization, juried art exhibition of art focused on expanding diversity consciousness and celebrating minoritized cultures and perspectives. Throughout February 2024, the Library shared the works of artists featured in Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh in our Main, Hill District, and Hazelwood branches.  

    Additionally, CLP is pleased to offer each first-place Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh winner a three-month artist residency at one of our twenty locations centered on their various disciplines: visual, literary, performance and interdisciplinary art. The purpose of this project is to develop a community-based artist in residence series that will help CLP build collaboration with diverse artists, serve our communities well, and create additional justice-centered art experiences in branches.

    The Library looks forward to welcoming the four artists in residence from late March through early June, with closing showcases in June. Our initial cohort of residences will be located at CLP-Main, CLP-East Liberty, CLP-Homewood, and CLP-Hill District. The artists include:

    Cerrina Hagood is a dedicated artist committed to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives in the realm of filmmaking. With a passion for storytelling, Cerrina delves into narratives that give voice to marginalized communities.  

    Mita Ghosal’s choreography utilizes tools from Contemporary Dance, Yoga, Theatre and familial and ancestral histories to guide her in artistic craft. Her work has been presented in New York, Los Angeles and her hometown of Pittsburgh through numerous professional venues. 

    Emily Carlson is an adjunct poetry teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 and directs Art in the Garden, an LGBTQ+ led, joy-centered arts and ecology program that addresses the impacts of childhood adversity and trauma. Their award winning poetry collections include Why Misread a Cloud,  and I Have a Teacher. 

    Lee Price is a visual artist who takes inspiration from American cartoons, anime and the raw energy of graffiti street art. These influences add an urban, dynamic edge to the artworks, making each piece a statement in the intersection of culture and creativity. 

    Finally, this April, during National Library Week, April 7 – 13, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is proud to announce the establishment of the annual Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt Lecture. The inaugural lecture will be presented in the CLP – Main Lecture Hall on Tuesday, April 9 via livestream by Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, nominated to the position by President Barack Obama in 2016. Dr. Hayden, is the first woman and first African American to lead the national library. All attendees are invited to attend a reception following the lecture featuring hands-on activities and opportunities to learn about CLP’s career exploration resources. 

     

    Join us for the Inaugural Vivian Ann Hewitt Davidson Lecture

    Register Today

     

     

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    CLP Polling Locations on Election Day https://www.carnegielibrary.org/clp-polling-locations-on-election-day/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/clp-polling-locations-on-election-day/#respond Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:00:45 +0000 http://10.70.30.223/?p=325757 Learn which Library locations will be open for voting as well as open for library services.

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  • Every Election Day, several Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches serve as polling places for their communities, and all of our locations continue to offer in-person library services.

    The following Library locations will be open for voting as well as open for library services on Election Day:

    All other locations will be open for regular services. Need to find your polling place or learn what will be on the ballot? Visit this FAQ to find out more!  

    If you have any additional questions, you can call the Library at 412.622.3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org. 

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    March Celebrations: Women’s History Month and PPS Literacy Week https://www.carnegielibrary.org/pps-literacy-week-2024/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/pps-literacy-week-2024/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:25:07 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=379246 Pittsburgh Public Schools Literacy Week is an annual opportunity to focus on the importance and joy of reading. This year’s theme, A Celebration of Women Writers, is a great fit for March.

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  • Pittsburgh Public Schools Literacy Week is an annual opportunity to focus on the importance and joy of reading. This year’s theme, A Celebration of Women Writers, is a great fit for March. That’s because March is Women’s History Month—and there are a LOT of great books by and about women for children and teens to enjoy. 

    Women’s History Month has been officially observed since 1987, though earlier celebrations started in the 1970s. Today’s kids and teens have plenty of titles to choose from to explore the experiences and contributions of women throughout time. There are biographies written for young children, intended to inform and inspire them in equal measure. There’s historical fiction too, like Newbery Award winners Moon over Manifest, Out of the Dust and The Midwife’s Apprentice that offer glimpses into other times. 

    History books for children and teens have become more inclusive over time also. Justice Rising : 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History are two great—and eye-opening—examples. Teen fiction and graphic novels can also be a source of insight, as the titles in this list show.  


     

    Pittsburgh Public Schools logo and slogan: Students first! Always, in all ways.

     

     

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    Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy: A Starter Playlist https://www.carnegielibrary.org/pittsburghs-jazz-legacy-a-starter-playlist/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/pittsburghs-jazz-legacy-a-starter-playlist/#respond Sat, 10 Feb 2024 19:34:06 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=378178 Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy: A Starter Playlist false Pittsburgh’s Jazz Legacy: A Starter Playlist || Throughout the history and development of jazz music, the worldwide cultural significance of contributions to the … Continued

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  • Throughout the history and development of jazz music, the worldwide cultural significance of contributions to the art form made by Pittsburgh’s legendary Black musicians cannot be understated. With nicknames like “Little Harlem” and the “Crossroads of the World,” The Hill District neighborhood was the center of Pittsburgh’s jazz scene. Its most famous venue, The Crawford Grill, along with the many other clubs along Wylie and Centre Avenues, held performances by both local legends and world-renowned jazz musicians. Pittsburgh was a common stop for touring jazz musicians between New York City and Chicago. Many Pittsburgh jazz musicians were particularly influential in the development of “bebop,” a jazz style following swing music which was faster, more complex, and more experimental. This improvisational style of the 1940s led to the development of modern jazz.

    Check out this playlist featuring music from Pittsburgh’s most famous Black jazz artists. Each album linked is available for streaming through the library’s free music streaming resources, so feel free to listen along while learning more about Pittsburgh’s rich jazz history!

    1. Earl “Fatha” Hines

    Born in Duquesne in 1903, Earl “Fatha” Hines is often cited as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time and known as the “father of modern jazz piano.” Growing up in a musical family, Hines studied classical piano as a child and moved to Pittsburgh as a teenager to study music at Schenley High School. When Hines and fellow Pittsburgh singer Lois Deppe performed a duet on KDKA radio in 1921, it became considered the first live radio appearance by African American artists on radio in the U.S. Hines eventually moved to Chicago to become a part of Louis Armstrong’s first self-led band, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five. Their group’s version of West End Blues is considered an early jazz recording masterpiece which prominently features Hines on piano. From the late 1920s on, he went on to become a legendary bandleader who mentored future jazz legends including Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.

    Earl “Fatha” Hines – The Earl Hines Collection Piano Solos (1928 – 1940) (Alexander Street Press)

    2. Mary Lou Williams

    Born in Atlanta in 1910 before moving to Pittsburgh, Mary Lou Williams’ beginnings as a child prodigy led her to become known around East Liberty as “the little piano girl.” Williams was among the first of many famous Black artists to attend Westinghouse High School in Homewood. Known as one of the earliest great jazz piano players and perhaps most influential woman jazz pianist of all time, Williams’ career of over 60 years influenced every era of jazz she lived through. She was also a major influence in the establishment of the first Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival in 1964, which continues to be a landmark annual event in the city to this day.

    This album was among the earliest which mixed elements of classical music and jazz with an overarching concept; each piece was dedicated to and inspired by artists and their corresponding astrological signs.

    Mary Lou Williams – Zodiac Suite (1945) (Alexander Street Press)

    3. Roy Eldridge

    Born on the Northside in 1911, Roy Eldridge is known for his role in bridging the gap between earlier swing trumpet playing and the more complex bebop jazz styles like his contemporary Dizzy Gillespie. After moving to Harlem in 1930, his success continued to grow as musician and bandleader working with artists including Billie Holliday, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, and his brother, saxophonist Joe Eldridge. This album features two legendary jazz trumpeters as well as Ray Brown, a fellow Pittsburgh native, in the rhythm section on bass.

    Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie – Roy and Diz (1954) (Alexander Street Press)

    4. Maxine Sullivan

    Born in Homestead in 1911, Maxine Sullivan was a jazz vocalist of the swing era who was a major influence for later singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Peggy Lee. In the 1930s, her prominence rose after being discovered performing at a Homestead speakeasy, the Benjamin Harris Literary Society. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1987, she even recalled her humble beginnings in Homestead at age 7, “singing ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ at the Carnegie Library in Homestead, PA., wearing my high-top shoes, in 1918.”

    Sullivan and her then-husband John Kirby headlined a CBS radio show “Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm” in the early 1940s, which made them the first Black jazz artists to have their own nationally syndicated radio series. The recordings on this album are from this period of her career.

    Maxine Sullivan and the John Kirby Orchestra – World Broadcast Recordings 1940-41 (Alexander Street Press)

    5. Art Blakey

    Born in the Hill District in 1911, Art Blakey’s professional career began in his teens playing piano in local clubs, but he ultimately ended up becoming a drummer. Blakey went on to play in bands with Mary Lou Williams, Billy Eckstine, and many other renowned bebop musicians until forming his own band, The Jazz Messengers. After several iterations, his group, “Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers” continued with Blakey as bandleader for nearly 40 years. His group is known as an originator of the “hard bop” genre and launched the successful careers of many jazz greats including Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, and both Wynton and Branford Marsalis. Art Blakey is often considered among the greatest jazz drummers of all time, and this album is considered a quintessential hard bop jazz album.

    Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (“Moanin”) (1958) (Alexander Street Press)

    6. Kenny Clarke

    Born in 1914, Kenny Clarke grew up in the Hill District. Clarke began working as a drummer professionally in his teens, which included playing with fellow Pittsburgh natives Roy and Joe Eldridge. After moving to New York in the 1930s, he began playing with other jazz legends working there, eventually joining Dizzy Gilespie’s group. As the house drummer at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem in the early 1940s, Clarke paved the path towards a new style of jazz drumming which involved playing the snare and bass drums at irregular intervals with accents. Nicknamed “dropping bombs,” Clarke’s style laid the foundation for bebop’s rhythm and later modern jazz drumming. He was also an original founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet alongside fellow Pittsburgh native bassist Ray Brown. Clarke moved to Paris in 1956, where he lived until his death in 1985. He spent most of the rest of his jazz career playing with both touring jazz musicians and other jazz expatriates in Europe, including saxophonist Dexter Gordon.

    Dexter Gordon – Our Man in Paris (1963) (Alexander Street Press)

    7. Billy Eckstine

    Born in 1914, Billy Eckstine grew up in Highland Park and attended Peabody High School in East Liberty before moving to Washington DC. As a working singer throughout the 1930s, he eventually achieved more widespread fame with fellow Pittsburgher Earl “Fatha” Hines’ Grand Terrace Orchestra in Chicago. Eckstine gained widespread fame as a baritone crooner and a bandleader whose group fostered future superstars including Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Art Blakey, and Miles Davis. These recordings are from a series of radio broadcasts recorded in 1945.

    Billy Eckstine and his Orchestra – The Swingin’ Mr. B (2006; recorded in 1945) (Alexander Street Press)

    8. Billy Strayhorn

    Although born in Dayton, Ohio in 1915, Billy Strayhorn grew up in Homewood and was another famous Westinghouse High School student. His career took off after he met Duke Ellington for the first time in 1938 after a performance by Ellington at the Stanley Theater (now the Benedum Center). Strayhorn played several songs on piano for Ellington which impressed him enough to invite Strayhorn a few days later to move to New York to work for him. This event marked the beginning of the nearly 30-year long period during which Strayhorn and Ellington collaborated on over 500 compositions and arrangements together. Some of Strayhorn’s most famous compositions include “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Chelsea Bridge,” “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing,” and “Lush Life,” which he wrote while “clerking at the Pennfield drugstore on the corner of

    Washington and Penn.” Strayhorn is also known for being the first openly gay artist in jazz history.

    While Strayhorn’s career was largely overshadowed by Duke Ellington’s widespread fame throughout their songwriting partnership, this album stands as one of the few on which Strayhorn recorded, arranged, and played his own compositions without Ellington.

    Billy Strayhorn – The Peaceful Side (1963) (Hoopla)

    9. Erroll Garner

    Born in 1921 in East Liberty, Erroll Garner was another famous Westinghouse High School graduate. By age 7, Garner was playing piano on local radio station KQV in a group with other young musicians called the Kan-D-Kids. As he continued playing local jazz clubs and on riverboats on the Allegheny throughout his youth, he eventually moved to New York City where he continued to gain more prominence throughout the 1940s and 1950s. His composition, “Misty,” became a well-known jazz standard and his live album “Concert By The Sea” became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Additionally, his extensive archive has been housed by the University of Pittsburgh since 2015.

    Erroll Garner – Concert By The Sea (1955) (Naxos Music Library Jazz)

    10. Ray Brown

    Born in 1926, Ray Brown grew up in Oakland and attended Schenley High School. In the school orchestra, he made the decisive switch from piano to bass so he would have more opportunities to play. After graduating, he moved to New York City and quickly became a part of the group of jazz musicians who were pioneering the bebop style. Throughout his career, a few of his milestones include musical director, arranger, and husband to Ella Fitzgerald and founding member of the famed Modern Jazz Quartet. Some of Brown’s longest gigs included touring internationally with Jazz at the Philharmonic for 18 years and as the bassist in the Oscar Peterson Trio for nearly 15 years.

    Oscar Peterson Trio – Night Train (1963) (Alexander Street Press)

    11. Ahmad Jamal

    Born in 1930 and raised in East Liberty, Ahmad Jamal started his formal piano study as a child with Pittsburgh legend Mary Cardwell Dawson, the founder of the first African-American opera company in the U.S. Jamal also attended Westinghouse High School and began his touring career with a fellow Westinghouse student’s group, the George Hudson Orchestra. By the 1950s, he was leading various groups, mostly trios, under different names. His trio’s 1958 live album, “At the Pershing: But Not for Me,” became one of the best-selling jazz albums of the decade. In particular, his version of the Latin jazz standard “Poinciana” became one of his most popular songs. Throughout Jamal’s career spanning over seven decades, he often cited Pittsburgh’s influence on his artistry. He even recorded an album in 1989 as a tribute to his hometown, suitably named “Pittsburgh.”

    Ahmad Jamal Trio – The Awakening (1970) (Alexander Street Press)

    12. Stanley Turrentine

    Born in the Hill District in 1934, Stanley Turrentine grew up in a musical family. His father, Thomas Turrentine Sr., played saxophone with a group called the Savoy Sultans and was Stanley’s first saxophone teacher. His mother was a piano teacher and his brother, Tommy Turrentine Jr., was a trumpeter who came up professionally alongside Stanley, even playing in a few different groups together with his brother. Following a stint in the army, Turrentine experienced more widespread success after playing for legendary jazz drummer Max Roach’s band alongside his brother Tommy. Throughout the 1960s, Stanley’s works contributed to the growing popularity of the “soul jazz” subgenre. He recorded some of these albums together with his then-wife, organist Shirley Scott, including their 1965 album “Hustlin’.” His 1970 album “Sugar,” which also features Pittsburgh guitarist George Benson, was among Turrentine’s most successful. Its title track has since become a jazz standard.

    Stanley Turrentine – Hustlin’ (1965) (Alexander Street Press)

    13. Paul Chambers

    Born in Pittsburgh in 1935, Paul Chambers went on to become one of the most prolific jazz bassists of the 1950s and 1960s. Chambers performed on over 300 albums with some of the greatest names in jazz including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock. His eight years playing with Miles Davis led to the creation of jazz recordings considered among the greatest of all time. If you’re new to jazz, this Miles Davis album is often recommended as a great entry point. Many consider “Kind of Blue” to be the greatest jazz album of all time.

    Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959) (Naxos Music Library Jazz)

    14. George Benson

    Born in 1943 in the Hill District, George Benson’s early career milestones include earning a few dollars playing ukelele in a neighborhood drugstore at age 7 and briefly playing in a nightclub on weekends at age 8. Another famous Schenley High School student, Benson went from recording his first record at age 10, “She Makes Me Mad,” to becoming known as one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. Since gaining more prominence in the 1960s while playing with organist Jack McDuff, Benson went on to record renowned works which became influential across musical genres. His 1976 triple platinum album, “Breezin’,” is one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

    George Benson – Breezin’ (1976) (Alexander Street Press)


    Recommended Reading:


    For more information about library resources related to jazz history and research, check out our Music LibGuide.

    For the most up-to-date information about where to see live jazz performances throughout Pittsburgh, check out WZUM’s Jazz Central calendar.

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    Neighborhood Volunteers https://www.carnegielibrary.org/neighborhood-volunteers/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/neighborhood-volunteers/#respond Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:00:29 +0000 http://10.70.30.223/?p=334749 Neighborhood Volunteers false Neighborhood Volunteers || The 2024 Neighborhood Volunteers application is now closed. Neighborhood Volunteers is a volunteer opportunity for community members who want to support Carnegie Library of … Continued

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  • The 2024 Neighborhood Volunteers application is now closed.


    Neighborhood Volunteers is a volunteer opportunity for community members who want to support Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh by getting involved in their neighborhood and raising awareness about Library services and programs.

    Program Details:

    Volunteers who are accepted to this opportunity will attend a training session and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Board’s Annual Public Meeting before being connected with the staff at their neighborhood locations. Neighborhood Volunteers agree to participate for six months, with the option to extend to one year at the completion of the first six months. Applications will be due by January 31, 2024.

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    Artistic Excellence in Children’s Books https://www.carnegielibrary.org/artistic-excellence-in-childrens-books/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/artistic-excellence-in-childrens-books/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:46:11 +0000 https://www.carnegielibrary.org/?p=375148 Illustrations in books for children serve a variety of functions. They help communicate the actions and ideas shared in the text. They can also expand a story by filling in details that aren’t included in the words.  

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  • Have you ever wondered how some books get those shiny seals on their covers? What makes a book an award winner? And who gets to decide? 

    In the case of the Caldecott Medal, the award is for illustration and it is “awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year.” 

    The folks who get to decide which artist and book will be selected each year are members of the Association for Library Services to Children. They include professors, children’s librarians in public and school libraries, and other professionals whose work revolves around children and books.

    That means I’ve spent the last 12 months reading and evaluating a LOT of illustrated books. Most are picture books, some are for older readers and a few are graphic novels. Along with all that individual work, I’ve met virtually with a committee of 14 others to discuss what makes some of these titles stand out. Then we met in person at a recent library conference and, after long hours of discussion, we arrived at our final decisions

    Each of us brought our own experiences and skills to this process. And all of us were thrilled to be part of something we believe in so deeply—that artistic excellence in books for children is worth celebrating.

    Illustrations in books for children serve a variety of functions. They help communicate the actions and ideas shared in the text. They can also expand a story by filling in details that aren’t included in the words.  

    Some research suggests that the presence of pictures increases interaction between the caregiver reading aloud and the listening child. This kind of exchange also supports the development of pre-reading (or early literacy) skills. 

    There are also less everyday reasons why art matters. Books like Hannah Salyer’s Ancestory, which explores prehistoric cave art, show that depictions of ourselves and the world we live in have intrigued us for a very long time. 

    Book cover for Ancestry

    This is a Story, by John Schu with illustrations by Lauren Castillo, explores the joy and satisfaction a group of children feel as they visit the library to find (and love) books that suit their interests.

    Book cover for This is a Story

    And Another, by Christian Robinson, uses only pictures to take a young girl on an imaginative journey. 

    Book cover for Another

    And speaking of journeys, next time you take a trip to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main in Oakland, don’t miss the life-size reproductions of some of the art from Robinson’s book in the Portal Entry of the building!  

    We hope we’ll see you soon, whichever library you choose to visit. And we’ll be happy to suggest some great picture books for kids—as well as illustrated books for teens and adults, too. After all, children shouldn’t get to have all of the fun, right? 


    Lisa Dennis is the Coordinator of Children’s Collections at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

    Images: details from Another, by Christian Robinson

     

     

    Illustration of little girls entering tunnels with pet cats from Christian Robinson's book "Another"

     

     

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    Tax Assistance Resources https://www.carnegielibrary.org/tax-assistance-resources/ https://www.carnegielibrary.org/tax-assistance-resources/#respond Sat, 13 Jan 2024 15:00:35 +0000 http://10.70.30.223/?p=328716 Wondering where to pick up your tax forms this year, or how to get assistance preparing and filing your taxes? This short guide will give you the information you need to prepare and file your taxes this season.

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  • Wondering where to pick up your tax forms this year, or how to get assistance preparing and filing your taxes? This short guide will give you the information you need to prepare and file your taxes this season.


    Free Tax Preparation and Assistance

    There are several free or low cost options for tax help in Allegheny County:

    • Just Harvest – In-Person Tax Prep, Virtual Assistance, File Yourself (chat options and assistance provided) or drop off taxes. Book appts by calling 211 or through pa211sw.org.
      • Several Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations host these tax appointments. Visit the link above or call 211 to schedule your appointment and designate your preferred location.
    • AARP – Customers can book an appointment through their website or call 412-530-5194, and they will get a recording to leave a message. Someone from AARP will call back to book the appointment.
    • VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) – View the list of providers by zip code

    Federal Tax Forms and Instruction Booklets

     

    How to Get Hard-Copies of Federal Tax Forms, Instructions, and Publications

    • Online: Download and print forms, instructions, and other tax-related publications can be found on the IRS website. Browser-friendly Instructions for the Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR can be found here.
    • By Mail: You can request tax forms, instructions, and other publications to be sent to you by mail by calling the IRS at 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 10:00 pm local time.
    • At the Library: Our locations may have PA-40 and 1040 forms already printed and available. You can also print forms at any CLP locations by using a public computer.
      • Please note: Prints are free for the first 10 pages, and then $.25 per page. Some CLP locations may have IRS instruction booklets and forms available, though supplies will be limited. Please call ahead to find out what your branch has available! 

    Notes on Discontinued Forms and Accessibility Options

    • Discontinuation of 1040-EZ: Remember that for Tax Year 2018 and later, Form 1040-EZ will no longer be used. All people filing taxes will use the Form 1040 or 1040-SR (available for people born before Jan. 2, 1956). You can find 1040-EZ forms for previous tax years here.
    • Accessible Forms and Publications: The IRS provides tax forms in Braille and large print, and offers content in a variety of formats to accommodate assistive technology and software. You can find more information on their Accessible Forms and Publications webpage, or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) to request accessible forms by mail. Forms and basic tax information are also offered online in twenty languages.

    State Tax Forms and Instruction Booklets

     

    How to Get Hard-Copies of State Tax Forms, Instructions, and Publications

    • Online: Forms, instructions, and other tax-related publications can be found on the PA Department of Revenue website to be downloaded and printed. Rent rebate program forms and instructions can be found here. For more information about the PA Rent Rebate program, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
      • Click here to access a PDF version of the 2023 Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (PA-40)
    • By Mail: You can request tax forms, instructions, and other publications to be sent to you by mail by calling the PA Department of Revenue at 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937) Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 10:00 pm local time. You can also send in written requests or order forms online at the PA Department of Revenue website.
    • At the Library: Locations may have PA-40 and PA-1040 / 1040 SR forms already printed and available. Please check with a staff member at your nearest library location. If the Library does not have a particular form, you can also print from any CLP public computer.
      • Please note: Prints are free for the first 10 pages, and then $0.25 per page.
    • Accessible Forms and Publications: Taxpayers with special hearing and/or speaking needs can call 1-800-447-3020 (TT Only)

    Filing Your Taxes

    Several Ways to Submit Your Tax Forms

    • Online: You can file your federal taxes online for free on the IRS website. You can also file for free at myfreetaxes.com, a service provided by a partnership between United Way and H&R Block. To file your state taxes online, view options on the PA Department of Revenue website.
    • By Mail: To file your federal taxes by mail, check your filing address here. To file your state taxes by mail, check your filing address here.
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