Eleven-year-old Sasha Brusilovsky of Squirrel Hill yesterday positioned her digital camera to capture one of her favorite childhood memories: the children's section at Carnegie Library's Squirrel Hill branch.

	Robert J. Pavuchak, Post-Gazette Library clerk Megan Gallagher uses a shopping basket to collect books requested by patrons at the Squirrel Hill branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The branch, the most heavily used neighborhood library in the system, closed yesterday for renovations. Click photo for larger image.

Sasha and others who have made the library their favorite stop during its more than 30-year history won't be getting a glimpse of the inside of the library for a while.

At 5 p.m. yesterday, the library closed for a $4.4 million renovation that's expected to take until the end of the year.

"I like the library. I've been coming here since I was young,'' said Sasha. With the pictures, she said, she'll be able to compare the old with the new.

For the first time since it was started in the 1890s, the Carnegie Library is in the midst of a major capital improvement program.

The Homewood branch reopened recently after a $3.5 million renovation, and the Brookline branch, which was upgraded for $2.9 million, reopened yesterday. The main library in Oakland has remained open during the current $2.8 million renovation of its first floor. The library operates in 21 locations.

Some wonder how the library can afford capital improvements during a time when tight budgets have forced the reduction of library hours. But the capital projects, which are being paid for with bonds, are separate from the operating budget.

	Robert J. Pavuchak, Post-Gazette Andrea Cravener, of Highland Park and her son Jordan, 6, walk across the open air patio at the Squirrel Hill Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Plans call for the patio to be encased in glass. Drawings and descriptions of the upcoming changes are available on the Carnegie Library web site. Click photo for larger image.

Squirrel Hill is the busiest neighborhood library, its volume exceeded only by the main library and the Library Center, Downtown. There were 242,157 visits to the Squirrel Hill library last year.

"We've never had enough space here, and we're very busy,'' said Blanche McManus, regional manager at the Squirrel Hill location. "It's not unusual for every study table in the adult and children's areas to be filled and every computer work station to be filled. It's not unusual for us to have four circulation stations operating.''

Located above a parking garage at the corner of Forbes and Murray avenues, the Squirrel Hill library was built in 1972 and has 16,000 square feet. Another 7,000 square feet will be added by enclosing the upper terrace along Forbes.

Some other changes include:

At the ground level on Forbes, there will be an enclosed entrance, providing stairs and an elevator and a more obvious presence along the community's main thoroughfare. Currently, there is an exposed stairwell on Forbes leading to the library.

The collection of about 100,000 books will grow to about 115,000, including books for a new business area and more children's books. During renovation, the library's collection will not be available for borrowing.

The number of computers will increase from 22 to 36.

More meeting rooms, including one devoted to children's programs, will be added. Currently, activities at the library share one room, which can be divided into two.

The children's section will move from the side along Forbes to the side on Marlborough Avenue, with access to an outdoor terrace.

Those who use the library are being referred to other locations. Some of the programs at the library -- such as the yoga class, origami club and poetry forum -- have found other temporary locations.

On its last day yesterday, visitors included those who were regulars as well as infrequent or first-time visitors.

Some found it a convenient stop, such as Carol Jenkins, of Manchester, a Point Park College junior who was able to combine studying sociology with a visit nearby to Pamela's for pancakes. Or Andrea Cravener, of Highland Park, who brought her son, Jordan, 6, for an activity while her other two children were in art classes at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Phyllis Berkovitz, of Point Breeze, was there, as she has been for more than 25 years, to teach a yoga class in the community room, which will be relocated during construction.

"As a yogi, we have to be prepared for change," she said. "As a human being, I feel sorry about losing this room."

Library security officer Cecilia Sugar, of Greenfield, who thinks of the library as home, said, "I think it's going to be beautiful."