The city of Pittsburgh yesterday approved repair of the lightning-damaged Allegheny branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, but the historic North Side building will no longer function as a library.

"The city and the library have agreed that the building does not meet the needs of a modern neighborhood library," said Suzanne Thinnes, the library's spokeswoman. "We're going to fix it, but we won't be back in."

She said the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority has identified a 16,500-square-foot lot at 1210 Federal St. as one possibility for a new library, which will be one of the library system's next priorities.

The Federal Street lot is just north of North Avenue, where groundbreaking for new homes is expected this fall.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation has agreed to underwrite preliminary architectural and engineering studies of the damaged 115-year-old landmark near the Children's Museum.

The four-story Richardsonian Romanesque building was the first of Andrew Carnegie's libraries to open in what was the city of Allegheny.

Arthur P. Ziegler Jr., History & Landmarks president, said the foundation would try "to assess how the building might attract good new uses."

The library's insurance will cover repair costs, the specifics of which are not known yet, said Ms. Thinnes.

"We're hoping work can start this fall, and it will take six to eight months."

The building's additional two tenants, the Hazlett Theatre and a senior center operated by the city, will not be affected by the repairs and will continue regular operations, she said.

Lightning struck the clock tower on April 7, and chunks of debris damaged the roof and interior utility systems.