The solid stone Carnegie buildings have provided the library with the space for a turn-around. Many of the library's partnerships today in highly technical projects began when nonprofits and social services agencies were invited to use the buildings. Among the first collaborations was the Pittsburgh office for the Foundation Center. Library managers see the institution as one of several local organizations and foundations, each with its own mission, that are cooperating to make a difference to the community.
Organizations approach the library for assistance.
Local connections are made when staff members serve on boards of local agencies and organizations. Purposeful contacts like these between library staff and community leaders or service providers are common and encouraged by library management. The cooperation that began with offering office space to social and public service agencies now includes extending invitations to develop homepages on the library's Three Rivers Free-net. The library offers to nonprofit organizations World Wide Web presence, information, and training in web site building and management. The organizations bring to the library content of local interest, labor to prepare the content, insights into community needs, distribution channels, and public goodwill.