Elected officials yesterday called on the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's board to open its doors and its books. Library officials said they have already done so, and are mulling the unusual step of inviting the public to their Dec. 14 board meeting.

State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Mount Washington, said there's a "disconnect" between the library board of trustees and library users. "Ninety-five percent of their annual operating funds are public funds. There has to be some system where they have to respond to the public."

Library spokeswoman Suzanne Thinnes said some of the system's 35 trustees attended public meetings before, and since, the announcement of the closings of branches in Beechview, Hazelwood, Lawrenceville and the West End, plus merger of the Carrick and Knoxville branches.

"I think we have been very forthcoming on our finances," Ms. Thinnes said. "I think the problem stems from Rep. Wagner maybe asking for financial information and not getting it quickly enough."

She said the system has faced many demands for information, and is preparing to cooperate with a coming audit by the Regional Asset District.

Ms. Wagner, Council President Doug Shields, council members Jim Motznik, William Peduto and Theresa Smith, and councilwoman-elect Natalia Rudiak gathered before the Council Chamber doors and made five demands. They want a moratorium on the planned closures; a public meeting attended by trustees in the next month; another meeting between trustees and elected officials; open doors for the trustees' Dec. 14 meeting; and detailed financial reports showing how shuttering branches would close the library's deficit.

Mr. Shields has proposed a $600,000 transfer of funds from the city's account for buying fuel to aid the libraries, followed by $600,000 from the city's 2010 budget, to keep the branches open. A tentative vote on the transfer from the fuel fund was postponed until next week.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has proposed that the library system get $1 million out of $16.2 million that he hopes to raise from a 1 percent tuition tax. The legality of that tax has been challenged by higher education leaders.

Ms. Thinnes said the trustees may consider on Dec. 14 whether to alter the branch closing plans. "It's going to require some short-term funding and long-term" pledges of predictable revenue.

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