Sara Moot Boyle · Elizabeth Carlin · Janice Beiber

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Sara Moot Boyle, 1926 - 1968
Elementary and high school students were encouraged to use the Library during school hours. Students would walk to the Library from The Fifth Street and the Gilmore schools, both of which were located at Fifth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Library was kept open until 9:00 in the evening to provide access for the general public. A telephone was installed at the Library so that people could call for information—a radical idea at the time.

In 1929, the basement of the Library was made available to local groups, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion held regular meetings in the basement rooms. (A minor fooforaw developed when it was publicized that the Ladies were playing cards after the meetings—bridge and pinochle. The problem was resolved when the ladies agreed to eliminate the card games, and their regular meeting continued in the basement for a number of years).

During the 1930’s, the School Board, which was also the operating Library Board at the time, used the basement rooms as a kindergarten room. A problem developed initially when the janitor complained about the extra work created by the kindergarten classes, but the School Board resolved the problem quickly by voting to increase the janitor’s salary from $65 to $85 per month.

In 1966, the supervision of the Library was transferred from the School Board to the Borough of Oakmont. The value of the Library to the community was recognized by the Borough Council and the Council has always made a special effort to appropriate funds necessary to maintain the Library as a healthy, vital part of the community.

In 1968, after 42 years of service to the Oakmont Library, Sara Boyle retired. Sara Cristof was hired and served until 1973.

Elizabeth Carlin, 1974 - 1989
The growth of the Oakmont Library continued with the hiring of Oakmont resident Elizabeth Carlin in 1974. It was during her tenure that the Library was designated as "a building of architectural and historic importance to the community" by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. A plaque was placed at the entrance to commemorate this event.

Working with the Library Board and the Oakmont Borough Council, Mrs. Carlin spearheaded the restoring of the main floor to its 1901 appearance. The restoration program began in 1979 and was successfully completed in 1983. Funding for the project was primarily accomplished by generous contributions from Oakmont residents, businesses and service organizations; with additional funding developed from corporate donations, charitable foundations and government agencies.

Mrs. Carlin had a goal of making the Library more accessible to older residents. With the help of Assistant Librarian Marie Palazzi Richter, they secured state funding to establish an extension of the Library at the Riverview Community Action Center. She established a Home-Outreach program to deliver library materials to those who are unable to visit either of the Library facilities, a program that has been managed by volunteer Marge Brown; and, with the assistance of the Oakmont Lions Club, an extensive Large-Print Library was developed.

With funds donated in memory of Jules Palazzi, an Oakmont resident who was a major influence of the Library restoration project, a block of black granite inscribed: "Oakmont Carnegie Library" was placed on the Library front lawn in 1988.

Elizabeth Carlin retired in 1989.

Janice Beiber, 1989 - Present
Responding to requests from the community, Jan Beiber served as the catalyst for organizing a support group for the Library, and on April 1^st (how appropriate), 1992, the organization now known affectionately as the FOOLS, the Friends of the Oakmont Library was born.

Librarian Jan Beiber and her staff have worked diligently to prepare the Oakmont Library, and Oakmont residents for the Twenty-First century. Library patrons are now able to access the Internet on computers located throughout the Library. Library patrons are now issued Electronic Information Network library cards. These cards enable patrons to utilize the services and materials of other libraries on the network, a consortia of Allegheny County’s public libraries.

Working tirelessly, Librarian Jan Beiber and her staff (with only occasional weeping and gnashing of teeth) in 1995 implemented a computerized check-in and check-out system that not only facilitates the daily operation of the Library, but provides access to the countywide card catalog.

Sunday hours were once again established, making the Library available to the community 7 days per week.

In 1998, the Library Board hired Integrated Architectural Services to create a plan to expand the Library. The shelves were full and study tables gave way to PCs. Expansion and renovation became necessary as the building approached its 100^th birthday. Funds were raised in the community and a $1.4 million bond was approved by 74.8% of voters in May 2003. Construction began in November 2003 and Spring 2005 is the anticipated date of completion for the project.

Note: A special thanks to Superintendent Rodger Knapp of the Riverview School District for his cooperation in making available minutes of the Oakmont School Board from the past.

Library History - Page 1