Celebrate Eastridge’s Reopening

Wilkinsburg, PA – The Borough of Wilkinsburg announces the grand reopening celebration of the Eastridge branch of the Wilkinsburg public library on June 1, 2024. The reopening celebration will feature an open house and light snacks from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., inviting the public to experience the completely renovated library. The Eastridge Branch is located at 1900 Graham Boulevard in Wilkinsburg.

With over 450 visitors a month, Eastridge is a popular community resource. Located in the ground floor of 1900 Graham Boulevard, Eastridge is a full-service branch library, serving as a neighborhood source of books, other circulating materials, and computer access. However, Eastridge’s interior had become dated and was not configured to be accessible or support the operations of a modern library.
Eastridge was closed to the public on March 12. Library and Department of Public Works employees packed and removed all books, circulating materials, shelving, and furniture to prepare the old space for demolition and renovation.

Because Eastridge was retrofitted into an existing floorplan, three sections of the library were elevated about a foot higher than the main floor area. This bi-level configuration both used the space inefficiently and created accessibility issues.

Department of Public Works removed all of the raised areas, resulting in a more open and easily accessed floorplan. A third-party firm was retained to perform asbestos abatement, removing floor tiles and related materials.

DPW staff prepped and painted the walls, using Benjamin Moore paints. The new primary wall color is Polar Sky 1674; the new trim color is Mozart Blue 1665.

A contractor installed new carpeting and DPW installed a new circulation desk that is more accessible than its predecessor and is optimized to support the equipment and workflow of a modern library.
“The staff and I are so excited about the changes being made at Eastridge. We are so happy to be opening the doors again and welcoming people to a new era of service for the Eastridge Branch, said Library Director Colleen Denne.