Mission
The mission of Western Allegheny Community Library is to provide a safe, inclusive, and accessible community-centered library that is free to the public and empowers its residents’ personal, educational, and professional growth through our collection, programs, and services.
Western Allegheny Community Library Video
History
Western Allegheny Community Library began more than 30 years ago when four local residents came together with a shared dream to create a library to serve the communities of Findlay Township, North Fayette, and Oakdale Borough. After years of building relationships in the community and with local governments, the library opened on November 17, 1990. The original facility at 8042 Steubenville Pike in Oakdale, PA, was strategically located within a mile of the high school and centrally located to all three municipalities. With an initial collection of 3,400 books in a two-room space, the library was small but mighty – a place for community members to gather and foster a love of learning.
Over the years, the library endeavored to keep pace with the needs of the community in the ever-changing information age. In 1999, a building expansion gave the library the increased space to offer computers and videos. Although the library had grown and changed over the years, it soon became obvious that more space was needed to accommodate the full vision of the board.
In the early 2000s, the library board and staff began to strategize a way to expand the library to become a hub for the community, a warm place where people could feel comfortable and welcome. They met with local governments, patrons, other libraries, architects, and businesses to garner support. With the support of the local municipalities, the library acquired its current facility at 181 Bateman Road in Oakdale, PA.
Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, the new library offered not only a much larger space with room to grow but also a beautiful, vibrant, state-of-the-art atmosphere. With multiple meeting spaces, free Wi-Fi, computers, and a constantly growing collection of both traditional and non-traditional items, the library has become a destination point for the community.
The library currently offers programs for all ages that are designed to inspire, engage, and educate. The summer learning program draws over 350 participants. The outreach program visits local schools, including nine preschools and daycares, introducing children to the wonderful world of books. Teens have the opportunity to participate in leadership programs where they can learn and grow. The library hosts programs for adults on various topics, including financial literacy, book clubs, and much more.
Additionally, the library partnered with West Allegheny School District and Monark Student Transportation to create a mobile library called the Book Bus, which takes literacy programs outside the library walls and into the community. Additional partnerships with the school district include Battle of the Books prep sessions and a variety of summer reading programs.
The library is also proud to offer a dedicated sensory room, providing a peaceful, inclusive space for individuals of all ages with sensory sensitivities to relax, explore, and engage in a quiet environment.
Something new is always on tap at Western Allegheny Community Library. Stop by and browse our collection of over 40,000 items, including books, DVDs, audiobooks, and our growing Library of Things collections. What will the library inspire in you?
