The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

23 Libraries Completed

In September of 2006, Chief County Executive Dan Onorato recognized a team of Interactive Media Design students at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, marking the completion of their “web-raising” project for a series of web sites being designed and produced for the Allegheny County Libraries Association (ACLA). ACLA is a non-profit organization comprised of 44 libraries with 86 locations, plus bookmobile stops throughout Allegheny County. Twenty three libraries have now been completed.

In recognition for their talent, effort and dedication, County Executive Dan Onorato presented The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a check for $6700 to benefit the college’s Education Foundation for student scholarships. Under the direction of faculty member David Barton, Art Institute students have put a modern spin on the tradition of barn raising developed 18th century colonial America. Historically, a barn raising is a one- or two-day event during which a community comes together to assemble a barn for one of its households. At most barn raisings, the community approaches the task with experience both in the individual tasks and the necessary organization. Young people participating meaningfully for the first time know what is expected of them.

In Spring of 2006, ACLA approached The Art Institute of Pittsburgh to enlist the talent and expertise of Interactive Media Design students. The goal was to streamline each community site, improve site navigation, content and overall functionality. The Art Institute’s David Barton formed a team of students who interviewed the community librarians, conducted site visits, organized content, designed new sites, shot architectural photography and presented the libraries with a new system of sites.

“We love that this project is likened to the old-fashioned barn raising concept,” said Marilyn Jenkins, ACLA Executive Director. “The community librarians have pulled together their resources and turned their focus on serving the residents of their community. The cooperative spirit of The Art Institute lending their expertise to making our vision become a reality represents the community spirit we strive to maintain.”

The web sites now feature content that community residents wanted such as online reference centers, location information, hours of operation, tax information and community events. The new sites were designed so that they can be updated and managed easily by each community librarian. “Even simple things like an easy-to-access button that switches the entire site’s type to large-scale for people who have trouble reading small screen-fonts were no problem for Art Institute students,” said Jenkins.

Community libraries in Avalon, Bridgeville, McKeesport, Allegheny Valley, Castle Shannon, Crafton, Dormont, Scott Township, Springdale and Wilkinsburg were the first to benefit from the web-raising project. Phase two of the project included community libraries in Baldwin Borough, Swissvale, Homestead, North Versailles, South Fayette, and Whitehall.

The following students participated in the development of the new sites: Student leaders: Jessica Dale, Michael Falk, Erica Volkman, Jessica Young and Ashley Harbaugh. Other students who participated: Tracy Braswell, Nicole Eleby, Justin Richards, Steve Glassner, Josh Smith, Sun Bear Coe, Josh Smith, Mike Kurtz, Kirsten Pack, Tara Norris, Zach Naylor, Jacob Porter and Kamron Rudisill.

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