Braddock Carnegie Library in Braddock, Pennsylvania, is a National Historic Landmark that opened in 1889 as the first public library built by Andrew Carnegie in the United States. For over 135 years, the BCLA has served as an anchor to an evolving community. The BCLA opened the Art Lending Library in 2013 as a result of its participation in the Carnegie International. This collection is a unique opportunity for community members to borrow art, including life-sized puppets, to take into their homes or offices for a few weeks. The BCLA also offers a robust arts program including a Fab Lab, Ceramics Studio, and Printshop. BCLA’s programs and services make it a vital piece of social infrastructure. The BCLA is an essential safe place of self-determination, community imagination, life-long learning, and development that honors the knowledge, cultures, needs, desires, histories, and lived experiences of our neighbors.