Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh/District Library Center
County Coordination Plan 2015
Overview of County
The Pittsburgh District includes 45 state-aided public libraries and 1 system: Allegheny County Library
Association(ACLA), Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Andrew Bayne Memorial Library, Andrew Carnegie Free
Library, Avalon Public Library, Baldwin Borough Public Library, Bethel Park Public Library, Braddock Carnegie
Library, Brentwood Library, Bridgeville Public Library, Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale, Carnegie Library of
Homestead, Carnegie Library of McKeesport, C.C. Mellor Memorial Library, Clairton Public Library, Community
Library of Allegheny Valley, Community Library of Castle Shannon, Cooper-Siegel Community Library,
Coraopolis Memorial Library, Crafton Public Library, Dormont Public Library, F.O.R Sto-Rox Library, Green Tree
Public Library, Hampton Community Library, Jefferson Hills Public Library, Monroeville Public Library, Moon
Township Public Library, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, North Versailles Public Library, Northern Tier Regional
Library, Northland Public Library, Oakmont Public Library, Penn Hills Library, Pleasant Hills Public Library, Plum
Borough Library, Robinson Township Library, Scott Township Library, Sewickley Public Library, Shaler North
Hills Library, South Fayette Township Library, South Park Township Library, Springdale Free Public Library,
Upper St. Clair Township Library, Western Allegheny Community Library, Whitehall Public Library ,Wilkinsburg
Public Library.
The residents of Allegheny County are currently served by 45 state-aided libraries that are members of the
Allegheny County Library Association, and 3 non-stated aided libraries that are not members.
Since 1995, the Allegheny County Regional Asset District has received one-half of the proceeds from a 1%
Allegheny County Sales and Use Tax to distribute to diverse non-profit organizations in Allegheny County; in
2014, $90,501,150.00 dollars was distributed with 32% of this funding allocated to support the libraries in
Allegheny County.
Evaluation of Prior Year County Coordination Plan
County-wide Subscriptions to Online Resources Due to level funding, the database selections offered have
remained identical the past three years. These databases have been selected because they provide access to
subject-based and skill-based resources not readily covered by statewide databases. We have seen database
use increase across all measurement categories: searches, sessions, session length, and retrievals; overall
searches have increased by 16%, sessions by 28%, session length by 39%, and full text retrievals by 31% over
the same period last year (Jan.-July). We have seen the cost per search and the cost per retrieval decrease
below $2.00 for the January – July 2013 time period; in 2012, both were above $2.00. The databases
purchased with 2013 funding included: Ancestry Plus, Biography in Context, Business & Company Insights
Essentials, U. S. History in Context, World History in Context, Literature Resource Center, Mango Languages,
MasterFILE/Novelist Package(includes Business Source Premier), Morningstar, Opposing Viewpoints in
Context, Science in Context, and Tumblebooks.
Bookmobile Service Allegheny County Library Association Bookmobiles (ACLA Mobile Library Services)
continue to provide library service to populations that cannot get to a library either because there is no local
library in their community due to socio-economic constraints, or their physical inability to travel. The
bookmobiles made 1,295 stops in 2012, including 475 preschool storytime visits, 531 visits to senior facilities
and 289 community visits. Service was taken to 108 locations, providing 1,257 hours of service in 50
municipalities. Based upon Board recommendations in 2011, an evaluation of the senior route was done and
lobby stop service was implemented. The numbers to date for 2013 show increases of double that time
period over 2012.
Priority 1: Countywide Subscriptions to Online Resources
Countywide Goal: Provide countywide access to select online databases
Eligible Category: Library Resources and Collection
Objective/Purpose: To provide access to essential online databases that support the information needs
of county residents.
Description of Countywide Activities, Services, Programs: Provide databases across a wide range of
subject areas, from general interest to subject specific research. Workshops are held periodically to
support staff training on the various databases.
How Will the Success of the Goal Be Evaluated? Measurements include continuing to keep track of the
number of searches, sessions, session length and retrievals. Quarterly database trainings will be
offered for library staff across the district. In addition, during September 2013, a countywide
eResource Challenge will be launched. This is a team-based online challenge that prompts staff to
explore and become more familiar with countywide e-resources.
Description of Expenditures: $315,370.18 spent on subscriptions to: Ancestry Plus, Biography in
Context, Business & Company Insights Essentials, U. S. History in Context, World History in Context,
Literature Resource Center, Mango Languages, MasterFILE/Novelist Package(includes Business Source
Premier), Morningstar, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Science in Context, and Tumblebooks.
Budgeted Amount: $315,370.18
Priority 2: Services to Children, Adults and Special Populations
Countywide Goal: Through bookmobiles(ACLA Mobile Library Services) library materials and services
are provided to those who cannot take advantage of a library building; they ensure that all library
patrons have access to the resources and types and levels of service outlined in the service guidelines
of the Allegheny County Library Association; and, they offer people, isolated by distance, poverty, or
lack of transport or education and individuals who cannot reach the library due to youth or old age,
the same access to resources provided by public money.
Eligible Category: Services to Children, Adults and Special Populations
Objective/Purpose: Bookmobiles(ACLA Mobile Library Services) provide the services that a library
building offers , in a personalized environment, at a location accessible to customers who otherwise may not
be able to use a library.
Description of Countywide Activities, Services, Programs: Currently the ACLA Mobile Library Services
provides three kinds of service: Preschool/Head Start service which is primarily for low-income
preschool and daycare facilities; Senior service which is a free service to senior centers, senior highrises, independent living and assisted living facilities throughout Allegheny County; and, the General
Community service which is a paid service, contracted by local community government, local public
libraries and school districts.
How Will the Success of the Goal be Evaluated? Currently, evaluation of the preschool service is being
conducted, particularly benchmarking service against libraries around the country. This exchange of ideas will
provide insight and new possibilities, and any practices that would improve service will be implemented. In
the interim, stops for the summer only have been added to the preschool route as Head Start sites are not in
operation outside the school year. This process will continue next summer.
The transition to a lobby service model for seniors has disclosed a new need. Activity directors and caregivers
have requested materials and guidance for programs and activities. To this end, the bookmobile is adding a
specialized collection to further support the needs of our community as we have traditionally done for
preschool teachers.
Service will be maintained or increased over current levels for both senior and preschool routes. The new
specialized collection for activity directors and caregivers of seniors will be built and circulating, available to all
libraries in the consortium, by the end of the reporting period.
Description of Expenditures: The projected overall budget for ACLA Mobile Library Services in 2013 is
$416,220; wages & benefits $267,145 and other operating $149,075. The amount allocated from the County
Coordination Plan budget represents 11.98% of the total ACLA Mobile Library Services budget.
Budgeted Amount: $49,877.50
Budget Total: $365,247.68
County Coordination Aid Budget 2015
Electronic Resources
$315,370.18
Mobile Services Support
$ 49,877.50
Total
$365,247.68