ZELIENOPLE — A lifelong resident who has been active in the borough for years on Friday wiped out the financial deficit of the Zelienople Public Library.

Randall Hart, a former Seneca Valley School Board member and a former library board member, donated $7,000 to the library.

“There is still validity to opening up a book,” Hart said, citing his own collection of old books inherited from his family. “This library is fantastic.”

Hart said he first became aware of the library’s financial struggles last week after reading an article in the Butler Eagle.

Library director Jan Lawrence, who was laid off in December, said in that story the library has a $190,000 budget while its income is about $183,000.

Hart’s donation will cover that deficit.

“If it (deficit) was $10,000, I probably would give $10,000,” he said.

Library board member Gregg Semel said the donation is “fantastic,” and he hopes other people will make donations.

“It almost brings a tear to your eye,” Semel said. “I do recognize it was through information and awareness that brought Randy to us.”

The library has had to decrease operating hours, cut part-time employees’ hours and temporarily lay off Lawrence because of less funding.

Lawrence said this lack of funds is due to decreased contributions and the state budget impasse. Along with that, state aid for the library has not increased for 10 years.

“What I think people assume is we’re being taken care of because our doors are still open and the lights are still on,” Lawrence said.

The library board this week will discuss potentially reinstating Lawrence along with restoring operating hours and part-time employees’ hours.

“It makes me feel wonderful,” Lawrence said of Hart’s gift. “I hope it inspires more individuals.”

This is not the first time that Hart has given money to an educational effort.

In October, he said he will give $1,000 a year to two Seneca Valley teachers, one in the high school and the other in the middle school as long as they continue to teach in the district or as long as Hart is alive to enhance their classroom activities.

Talking about his donation to the library, he called Zelienople “the jewel of the north,” describing it as a “perfect” place to raise a family. He hopes a younger generation of people will become more aware and active in the community.

“We have great schools. We’re a safe community. You can walk everywhere you want. We have a great library,” he said. “That’s because our parents made it that way. We need to continue to keep it that way if we can.”

“If they have the capability of giving to whoever or whatever, they need to do that,” he added. “The community has to be more aware.”

Hart, Lawrence and Semel all said while the donation is helpful, more will need to be done to fight future financial problems of the library.

“We have work to do,” Lawrence said.

The library is talking with other people and organizations for donations.