Patrice in the Vital Records Department and her co-workers delivered outstanding service.read more

The Pittsburgh City-county building is home to many Allegheny county services including the office…read moreof the mayor as well as other public records and the city treasurer. On the steps is a statue of the late Richard Caliguiri and inside the main lobby is a beautiful vaulted ceiling with artifacts all around. You must pass through security to enter. Two of the most used offices are that of the register of wills and the marriage license bureau. The latter is the focus of this review. I came here after learning that my marriage license issued before 911 is no longer acceptable for documentation for proof of name change. This is especially important if you want to get the new PA REAL ID and don't have or intend to get a passport. Oldie wed brides this information is directed mostly for your benefit. Some of us went in the late 90s and not only got the half sheet that was signed by the officiant but also spent money to get a single sealed certified copy. If you have either or both of these items then file them away. I was told they are now outdated. It must be triple sealed. I walked into the office, explained what I needed as was politely asked the year of my marriage and the groom's name. She didn't need anything else. She found my record and told me it would be ready in about 10 minutes for a minimal fee of $10.00. I was then asked to sit in the main waiting room where some happy couples were applying for their licenses for their upcoming nuptials. This same office also serves as a passport office so in case you wish to get that instead it lists the items you need to apply. After 10 minutes I was called and received my tripled sealed copy after I paid the $10.00. Like a deed title the seals are embossed in a triangle shape on the cover page. The 2nd page is the exact copy of that half sheet of paper I was given when I got married and the last page is a copy of my marriage license application. Many people who were married before 911 "assume" their old licenses are still good because they worked to change your name on all legal documents including your social security card. That is not the case any longer. If you don't wish to come down then it can be done on line however, if you were married before 1996 they charge a $4.00 surcharge for a document search in addition to the fee and it takes weeks to get. One of the difficulties with getting to the City County building is that you have to walk a few blocks for public parking or public transportation. Located on Grant St downtown the County Office building sits behind it and across the street is the County courthouse.

Its a jail. The food is mid af. 10/10 would not recommend at all. Bt recommend i mean they…read moreshouldn't be legally operating. So much going on there and it's not the prisoners

food wasn't very good. bed was incredibly hard. I'm pretty sure the heat in my room was broken…read more 1/10 would not recommend traveling here.

Went on a Wednesday morning to get a new birth certificate after losing my original. Went online…read morefirst and printed and filled out all proper paperwork. Which was basically 1 page with your basic info. When I got there I had to let the security guard at the front door know where I was going. He then typed something into a thing at his desk which apparently runs the elevators. Got on the elevator which took me to the 3rd floor without me having to hit any buttons. When I reached the 3rd floor I then had to follow the signs to Vital records office. When I reached the office I went to the window where I was met by a very nice older women who took my papers and ID. She then processed my payment and told me that my Birth Certificate will be ready in 10 to 15 minutes. I sat down for what I believe was no more that 5 minutes and it was ready and given to me by another gentleman. Fast and polite service!! I was honestly expecting a line and alot of hassle. Luckily got neither and had a very pleasant experience!!

Zero stars, for this branch, specifically, and for the Pa DVR as a whole…read more Zero Stars. If you have business here, consider yourself as damned as one of Dante's characters in "The Inferno". Seriously. In my case, it was to receive an updated copy of my birth certificate. My original birth certificate, and my updated 1996 era certificate of live birth were deemed inadequate by both the DMV and the State Department. Now I know how Obama's feels. This place makes the DMV look like a day at the beach. The level of security is high, the climate control nonexistent. Once you make it past two levels of security,You will conduct all of your transactions with a clerk who is behind six inches of glass. There's no intercom, so lip reading skills would benefit you. If you're lucky enough to get there in time for same day service (11:00-11:30?), you will have the pleasure of coming back later in the day, to wait in line once more, to receive your documents.

First time I've been here since they finished renovating market square. It is such an improvement!…read moreNo more ankle twisting cobblestone. It's been replaced with smooth brick. The square has a covered area now too, with lots of seating so it can be enjoyed year round. There's so many great restaurants and cafes around the square, and there's expanded outdoor dining at a lot of the restaurants, as well.

Market Square is a public space in the downtown area with a variety of shops and restaurants…read moresurrounding it. It was recently renovated just in time for the NFL Draft to allow more accessibility and better space for events. In the public area, there are some tables and chairs to sit and enjoy the area. They also seem to plan to have a lot more semi-permenant attractions in the space. Currently their is a roller rink (which is surprisingly affordably priced) . It has historically been home to the Holiday Market (which was moved into the theater area this year because of the construction). I hope the market does move back because Market Square was definitely the better space for it. There is plenty of parking nearby in garages, surface lots and street parking. The one downside is that it is really tough to drive through, especially with the way the renovated it. Drivers seem to be stopping to take in the new look or don't understand directional signage so there is often traffic backups.

This location has great customer service and is SUPER accessible. But what happened the the…read moreSTACKS??! Very limited selection of titles on the shelves, but a great space to study or work

Each branch of the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh has their own special attributes, and this one…read moreis definitely worth visiting. It's not on the main drag, but once you find Fisk Street, it's easy to find. One unusual feature is tombstone in the reading room. It's a long story, but connected to the extraordinary history of Lawrenceville and Stephen Foster's entrepreneurial father. There's a special collection of reference books in this branch that cover the history of the Foster family. The library had a makeover several years ago, and they lovingly preserved most of the great historic characteristics of the building. The staff is helpful and welcoming, and there's rarely a wait to use the technology.

4.5 stars. This Carnegie Library in downtown Pittsburgh is currently open six days per week during…read morethe daytime. This library offers a wide variety of publications as well as public computers, printers and copiers for a fee, free Wi-Fi, and meeting rooms. When I lived downtown years ago, I could easily walk to this library. Now that I live in the suburbs, I can either park in a nearby garage or take public transportation here. Most recently, I used this library virtually when I scheduled a grants-database training with a librarian. She began our Google Meet call on time, and she spoke very courteously and informatively to me. I appreciate her advice about how to access the databases.

Wow, just wow! I had the opportunity to tour this downtown library branch at their Grand Re-opening…read moreevent in April 2021. Thanks to the donors/grants and job well done to CPL-Downtown leaders/staff for creating the bigger, brighter, beautiful, full of the latest technology library space. If you haven't visited this location this year, I highly recommend checking it out. Besides the incredible business space with reservable co-sharing glass door offices, meeting rooms, desk tables, there are separate designated spaces specifically designed for teens and children. There is even an audio room designed to record podcasts. This investment is a tremendous public resource for the Carnegie Library patron community.