When the Carnegie post office closes at noon Saturday, it will end 92 years of service at 132 E. Main St.

Starting Tuesday, customers will mail their letters, purchase stamps and conduct other postal business in leased quarters at 139 E. Main St. -- at the corner of Broadway Avenue.

The location in back of the Family Dollar store will be smaller but it will be more modern and, of course, newer.

"It's a lot brighter and better lit," said Tad Kelley, of the U.S. Postal Service office of public affairs and communications.

He added that the new quarters are at street level -- no steps -- and feature an expanded line of packaging supplies, as well as better handicapped accessibility, including lower counters. The facility also offers larger post offices boxes.

"Our business customers really like them," Mr. Kelley said.

The post office move has been in the works since late 2006, but will mean an adjustment for customers in Carnegie's 15106 ZIP code, which includes customers who reside in Heidelberg, Rosslyn Farms and portions of Scott and Collier.

"It certainly is a landmark," said Councilman Mike Sarsfield, who went on to say that he thinks customers will not be overly inconvenienced by the move because the new location is less than a block away.

Postal authorities have cited competition from private mail firms, a need to keep costs in line with services and a desire to move away from building ownership as reasons they decided to sell the building. They also noted that most of today's mail is sorted by automation, using ZIP codes, so less space is needed.

Still, some Carnegie officials are saddened to see the post office move from its well-known location. Built in 1916, the 10,800-square-foot building is constructed in the Beaux Arts style of architecture that has become symbolic of the borough's business district over the years.

"I am really sorry to see them leave that building, but happy that they are able to maintain their presence in town," said Councilwoman Dorothy Kelly.

She argued last summer that, as a government agency, the postal service has not paid taxes on the property and has failed to keep up with routine maintenance.

"I think it's a pity that a federal government real estate is kept in such shabby condition," she said. The building is getting a new roof because it is a historic landmark, Mrs. Kelly said. She wanted the building to be given to the borough.

After completing a process that included offering the building for purchase by another federal agency, followed by state, county and municipal governments, the soon-to-be former post office is available now for private sale. The postal service is obligated to sell the building at fair market value to keep postal costs down, federal authorities have said.

The new post office location contains parking space in front of the Family Dollar, retail space and a loading dock. Hours will remain the same: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.