Zelienople Library set for renovations, temporary closure
The Zelienople Area Public Library will undergo a brief closure at the end of this month as it receives several long-anticipated renovations aimed at improving the space for patrons and staff.
From June 23-28, the library will be closed as a new circulation desk and staff desks are installed, and carpeting is replaced throughout the main floor, marking a fresh chapter for the facility.
The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience and maintain a welcoming environment for the community.
“Everything is pretty old right now,” said library director Cyndi Peluso. “We’re just kind of updating different things and making it a little bit more efficient for our staff. It’ll be a slightly reconfigured space as well.”
Library staff are preparing for the weeklong closure by adjusting loan periods and encouraging visitors to stock up on reading materials in advance. During the closure, digital resources like e-books and audiobooks will remain accessible online and patrons can still return books through the drop-off window.
“The patrons come in and love it anyways, but I think once they see it finished, they’ll really appreciate the new look,” Peluso said.
All of the renovations were funded through the library’s annual budget. In addition to the teen room that was renovated about four years ago, the changes are expected to modernize the front of the library, making it more functional for both daily operations and an expanded line of programming.
The facility, which is one of seven in the Butler County Federated Library System, will be the sole beneficiary of Zelienople’s fourth Annual Bed Derby. The event typically provides at least another $1,500 in funding.
It also receives funding from four local municipalities — Zelienople, Lancaster Township, Harmony and Evans City — that usually layer donations into a yearly budget. Lancaster Township supervisors recently approved their $7,000 budgeted donation. That funding is mostly utilized to pay wages and run children’s programs.
The library is scheduled to reopen on Monday, June 30. Updates will be posted on the library’s website and social media channels as the work is completed.
