Twenty-one people from across the Butler area recently lent their voices to the recorded history of the Butler Area Public Library.

The writers of this history come from as far away as El Salvador and as nearby as North Washington Street in Butler. They range in ages from 22 to 79. They are patrons, students, teachers, librarians and, in one case, a librarian’s sweetheart. Some are avid readers; others, not so much.

They have one thing in common — they share fond memories of Butler Area Public Library.

These voices have become part of “Stories We Share, Library Memories,” an oral history project, said Lori Hinderliter, Butler Area Public Library’s executive director.

“In audio and written format, library memory recordings began in 2024 to commemorate the library’s 130th anniversary,” she said. “It’s been fun hearing people’s memories of the library. We’re sharing the audio recordings with the public on our website. And we’ve transcribed those recordings for a book that visitors will find in our collection.”

Interviews were conducted by information services manager Anita Bowser, and volunteer, Zephan Samuel. Recordings range from three to 15 minutes long.

Bowser said stories include childhood memories of visits to public and school libraries and compare library services of the past to current library offerings.

The project is possible through an Empowered History Grant from the Pennsylvania State Archives, which helped the library purchase recording equipment.

“This project is intended as a model for future library collections and for personal recordings by members of the public,” Bowser said. “We’ve created an oral history recording kit for borrowers to use. We hope that families and community organizations will use it to document their own memories for personal posterity.”

Technology, she said, has made oral history collection easier and faster than it has ever been.

Anyone wishing to borrow an oral history recording kit or interested in being interviewed for the library’s oral history collection should contact Bowser at abowser@bcfls.org.