Our Story

The Mt. Lebanon Public Library Speaker Series began in 2014 to honor the memory of Joe Wertheim, a long-time library supporter and Board member. Joe was an avid reader, so it is particularly fitting that the Library pays tribute to him through this series, funded initially with donations given in his memory. 

The Mt. Lebanon Public Library Speaker Series has attracted over 4,500 attendees with a line-up of bestselling authors such as Alexander McCall Smith, Joyce Carol Oates, Lisa See, Erik Larson, and Amor Towles.

In 2018, we expanded the Speaker Series to include free author talks throughout the year at the library. These talks were very successful, drawing large crowds to hear and meet respected authors.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic, the series went virtual. Angie Cruz, Deesha Philyaw, Susan Meissner, Mary Alice Monroe, Caroline Kim, Clare Beams, and Jonathan Putnam were among the acclaimed and bestselling authors who joined us on Zoom. 

In 2022, we welcomed a live audience back to the auditorium with bestselling author Amor Towles. Moving forward, we will continue to provide local access to quality speakers while promoting global understanding and a broader cultural awareness.