The Millvale Community Library (MCL) is well known as “more than a library – an agent of positive change.” They envision a happy, informed, and engaged community….and serve as a hub of local involvement to enact that vision by sharing values such as education, sustainability, love of community, and character commitment with their neighbors through innovative programming. Serving more than 20,000 patrons annually, the MCL is an open and welcoming space for all.

Neighborhood Allies has partnered with the Millvale Community Library several times over the years. In 2019, we provided them with two small grants towards their popular Tool Library, as well an event to activate their recently built back deck through our (now closed) Love My Neighbor! grant program. More recently, our Social Impact Design (SID) team worked with Melissa Mason, the Executive Director of the MCL, to engage community members at the library around another Millvale project that we worked on – the design of the soon-to-be Rainbow Racoon Park. (Read more about our work on that project here and here.)

This year, the MCL is one of two organizations that have been chosen to receive pro-bono engagement and design services from our SID team as they embark on a future expansion plan. Over the course of 2025, Tamara and Jordan will be working with the MCL and passionate community members to create a plan to transform the library to better serve the diverse needs of its community. Our SID team will lead the community through a participatory co-design process that is accessible, inclusive, and representative of its patrons. We aim to create a final design plan that is built on community aspirations and aligns with the library’s goals of creating functional space that enhances inclusivity and fosters community connection.

Want to get involved?

Because community engagement is a cornerstone of this project, there will be many opportunities for community members to participate in working groups, workshops, and brainstorming sessions — all with the goals of better understanding the current and future needs of the library, building consensus of future use of space, and informing potential design options. If you’re interested in participating, fill out this form.

In helping the MCL start its next chapter, we hope our work will strengthen the sense of community ownership in the library while also empowering the library team with tools and insights to effectively communicate the vision to stakeholders and potential funders that will make the expansion possible. We can’t wait to get started!