Carnegie Library Card Holders Can Utilize Variety of Free Services
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a massive selection of books for children and their families, but library card holders can take advantage of a number of other services for free.
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A recent edition of Hey Pittsburgh’s newsletter cited six free things that Pittsburgh residents can get with their library card. The daily newsletter even created a podcast to discuss the activities.
Free activities and services listed by Hey Pittsburgh include:
Borrowing power tools from the Millvale Community Library, which has a collection of more than 1,000 hand and power tools for building, home maintenance, gardening, plumbing, car repairs, and bike tuneups
Digitizing photos and videos at the Recollection Studio’s DIY digitization lab in Oakland, which has hardware, software, and documentation to digitize VHS tapes, audio cassette tapes, documents, photographs, slides, and negatives
Borrowing bakeware from the Library of Things, which has an entire cooking and baking catalog where visitors can find everything from popcorn, ice cream, and waffle makers to holiday cookie cutters and cake pan shapes for themed birthday parties
Digging into family history at the main branch of the Carnegie Library in Oakland, which has a local history and genealogy section where visitors can book appointments to research their family tree through newspaper clippings going back to the early 1900s, a microfilm collection with census records and city directories, and books with instruction on cemetery research
Picking up a new hobby. Music lovers can borrow synthesizers, beatmakers, sequencers, effects pedals, recording equipment, and instruments. Sports and outdoor enthusiasts can check out pickleball and tennis racket sets, bocce ball, corn hole, and a fishing rod kit. Those who love the arts can access a wide variety of online crafting tutorials through Creativebug such as quilting, embroidery, bookbinding, sewing, and such tools as a pottery wheel.
Getting free or discounted tickets to a number of cultural attractions - such as the Carnegie museums, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Pirates games - with the RAD Pass.
Listen to the Hey Pittsburgh podcast to hear more about free activities that the Carnegie Library system offers.