At first, it was just a fun experiment. In 2024, avid reader Brittany Mihalko Bozak started tracking how much money she was saving by borrowing books from the library instead of purchasing them for her personal collection. 

The number kept climbing. 

By the fall, Brittany realized she’d saved hundreds of dollars. Eventually, those savings would surpass $1,000.

That realization inspired her to do something unexpected: she gave those savings back to her local library. It was her way of supporting a resource that had helped her through one of the most challenging periods of her life. 

“I started reading again in 2021 after my son was born to combat postpartum anxiety,” Brittany said. “The escape from reality with a cushy romance from Katherine Center or exciting fantasy from Wesley Chu really helped me relax.” Like many new parents, Brittany found that free time had become one of her scarcest resources. Finding time to visit the library wasn’t always easy. 

Then, in January 2024, she discovered Libby, the free app that gives library cardholders access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital resources. “I joined Libby due to the practicality of delivery right to my phone and the vast library of books and materials available,” she said.

For Brittany, the process was a breeze. “Once (my accounts) were linked, it was off to the races,” she said. “I save time and money with the content the library puts on there because it’s delivered directly to me.”

Suddenly, the library showed up in all the places a busy parent actually has time to read: in the pickup line, during a lunch break, while folding laundry or in those precious few quiet moments after bedtime when the house finally settles down.

The library didn’t just fit into Brittany’s life. It fit into the tiny spaces between everything else.

For people throughout Allegheny County, that’s exactly what makes digital resources so powerful. Parents, caregivers, commuters, shift workers and residents who may not be able to visit a library regularly can still access books, movies, music, research tools and learning opportunities whenever they need them.

“The convenience of having an online catalog of resources available to patrons at all times allows libraries to expand their collection far beyond their walls,” said Hilary Lewis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s coordinator of eResources. 

That’s where donor support makes a difference.

The Love Your Library matching gift campaign is one opportunity to contribute.

“When the September Love Your Library campaign came out with the donation match, I knew it was the right time to ‘pay it back,’ if you will,” Brittany said. “At the time of the donation, I donated roughly the whole of what I had saved for the year… It felt only right to pay it back.”

“Each gift to libraries is an investment in our neighbors and in the future of Allegheny County,” said Andrew Medlar, president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “These contributions allow us to expand access to learning, spark curiosity and strengthen the connections that make our community so vibrant.”

Libraries create value far beyond their walls, whether that means saving someone money, opening up new opportunities or simply making books easier to reach. Brittany’s generosity helps ensure the library can keep being there for others when they need it.

To support the library services you love and help unlock matching funds this September, make your gift at loveyourlibrary.org. 

Sponsored by Allegheny County Library Association

The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) is a federated library system that highlights the work of its membership, which includes 46 independent public libraries with more than 70 locations serving the residents of Allegheny ocunty, Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Allegheny County Library Association

Sponsored by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Guided by our mission of literacy, exploration and community connections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is a destination space for information, technology, community building, social connection and fun.

Learn more about Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

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The library was there when she needed it. Now, she’s paying it forward.

by Simon Hebert, Pittsburgh's Public Source
August 30, 2026

<h1>The library was there when she needed it. Now, she’s paying it forward.</h1> <p class="byline">by Simon Hebert, Pittsburgh's Public Source <br />August 30, 2026</p> <p>At first, it was just a fun experiment. In 2024, avid reader Brittany Mihalko Bozak started tracking how much money she was saving by borrowing books from the library instead of purchasing them for her personal collection.&nbsp;</p> <p>The number kept climbing.&nbsp;</p> <p>By the fall, Brittany realized she'd saved hundreds of dollars. Eventually, those savings would surpass $1,000.</p> <p>That realization inspired her to do something unexpected: she gave those savings back to her local library. It was her way of supporting a resource that had helped her through one of the most challenging periods of her life. </p> <p>"I started reading again in 2021 after my son was born to combat postpartum anxiety," Brittany said. "The escape from reality with a cushy romance from Katherine Center or exciting fantasy from Wesley Chu really helped me relax." Like many new parents, Brittany found that free time had become one of her scarcest resources. Finding time to visit the library wasn't always easy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Then, in January 2024, she discovered Libby, the free app that gives library cardholders access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital resources. "I joined Libby due to the practicality of delivery right to my phone and the vast library of books and materials available," she said.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Brittany-Mihalko-Bozak_BF8A3982-scaled.jpg" alt="A woman sits in a chair in front of a bookshelf. She holds a tablet with a Carnegie Library logo and a heart sticker on the back." class="wp-image-1336812" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brittany Mihalko Bozak mostly reads books on her tablet through the Libby app. (Photo courtesy of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh)</figcaption></figure> <p>For Brittany, the process was a breeze. “Once (my accounts) were linked, it was off to the races,” she said. “I save time and money with the content the library puts on there because it’s delivered directly to me.”</p> <p>Suddenly, the library showed up in all the places a busy parent actually has time to read: in the pickup line, during a lunch break, while folding laundry or in those precious few quiet moments after bedtime when the house finally settles down.</p> <p>The library didn't just fit into Brittany's life. It fit into the tiny spaces between everything else.</p> <p>For people throughout Allegheny County, that's exactly what makes digital resources so powerful. Parents, caregivers, commuters, shift workers and residents who may not be able to visit a library regularly can still access books, movies, music, research tools and learning opportunities whenever they need them.</p> <p>"The convenience of having an online catalog of resources available to patrons at all times allows libraries to expand their collection far beyond their walls," said Hilary Lewis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's coordinator of eResources.&nbsp;</p> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <p>“This expands the scope of our physical collection and creates opportunities for those who may not be able to visit us in person to still enjoy our resources," Lewis said.</p> <p>For Brittany, those resources became a consistent source of comfort and connection. They also introduced her to something many library users don't realize: digital materials are free for patrons, but not for libraries, and the cost continues to rise each year.</p> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <div class="wp-block-group is-style-default has-secondary-background-color has-background"> <p>Online resources at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh include:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>eBooks</li> <li>eAudiobooks</li> <li>comics and graphic novels</li> <li>movies and television shows</li> <li>music albums</li> <li>resources for skill building and hobbies</li> <li>research databases.&nbsp;</li> </ul></div> </p></div> </p></div> <p>That's where donor support makes a difference.</p> <p>The Love Your Library matching gift campaign is one opportunity to contribute.</p> <p>"When the September Love Your Library campaign came out with the donation match, I knew it was the right time to 'pay it back,' if you will," Brittany said. "At the time of the donation, I donated roughly the whole of what I had saved for the year… It felt only right to pay it back."</p> <p>“Each gift to libraries is an investment in our neighbors and in the future of Allegheny County,” said Andrew Medlar, president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “These contributions allow us to expand access to learning, spark curiosity and strengthen the connections that make our community so vibrant.”</p> <p>Libraries create value far beyond their walls, whether that means saving someone money, opening up new opportunities or simply making books easier to reach. Brittany’s generosity helps ensure the library can keep being there for others when they need it.</p> <p><strong>To support the library services you love and help unlock matching funds this September, make your gift at <strong><a href="https://loveyourlibrary.org" data-type="link" data-id="loveyourlibrary.org">loveyourlibrary.org</a>.&nbsp;</strong></strong></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/love-your-library-september-allegheny-county-carnegie-library-pittsburgh-donate-reading/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org&quot;&gt;Pittsburgh&#039;s Public Source&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-ps_circle_favicon_blue.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=1336808&amp;amp;ga4=G-CCLXQK5C14&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://www.publicsource.org/love-your-library-september-allegheny-county-carnegie-library-pittsburgh-donate-reading/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/publicsource.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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