NEWS
6th annual Meritzer Award presented to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh was awarded for its leadership in creating more welcoming, safe, and accessible spaces for people living with disabilities.
The 6th annual Richard Meritzer Award was presented to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) at the ReelAbilities Pittsburgh film festival on Friday, September 6 at 7:30 PM. This prestigious award, which honors makers of foundational change in accessibility and inclusivity in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, was given to CLP in recognition of its leadership in creating more welcoming, safe, and accessible spaces for people living with disabilities, including improving physical access of its historic buildings, pursuing thoughtful and user-friendly design solutions, seeking public input on issues of accessibility, and continuously adapting its programs with the goal of ensuring a more inclusive environment for all.
Andrew Medlar, President & Director of CLP, said, “Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is incredibly honored to receive the Richard Meritzer Award. This recognition underscores our commitment to creating a welcoming and accessible environment for all members of our community. We believe that libraries should be inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive, and we’re proud to continue Richard Meritzer’s legacy of advancing accessibility and inclusivity.”
Cosponsored by ReelAbilities Pittsburgh and the City-County Task Force on Disabilities, the award was named in memory of Richard Meritzer (1953-2019), who served as ADA Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh from 2007 to 2019. Meritzer was a leader in promoting the understanding and implementation of the ADA in Pittsburgh and beyond.
Pictured (from left to right): Kathryn Spitz Cohan (Film Pittsburgh), Karlyn Voss (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh), Mark Lee (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh), Karen Hoesch (nominator), James C. Noschese (City-County Task Force on Disabilities).
Photography by PorterLoves