Loyal Patron’s Gift Leads to Cranberry Library Renovations

Cranberry Library Director Leslie Pallotta didn’t know Margery Himes well, but she imagines the retired teacher had a love for reading—and for young people.

After all, it’s thanks to Himes, who taught elementary school in rural Central Pennsylvania for 27 years, that the library is expanding its teen section.

When Himes, who lived in the Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community in Cranberry, died earlier this year, she left a $30,000 legacy endowment to the library.

Pallotta said the library plans to use about $20,000 of the funds to make minor renovations to the library, including relocating the circulation and reference desk into one central location and expanding the library’s young adult section.

“It’s the fastest growing section in the library,” Pallotta said of the teen area.

The computer area and the young adult section will both be repainted during the renovations. A wall also will be ripped down to create more space for the teen area.

In addition, the library plans to create more shelf space for YA books and to add teen-friendly furniture, including a love seat, to a lounge area.

The library will be closed for three days, from Aug. 19 through Aug. 21, for the renovations.

It will reopen with normal business hours at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22.

Plans for Expansion, Outdoor Garden Ahead

While tearing down the wall during next week’s renovations means losing the small meeting room near the computer room, the library has plans for space—lots more space—in the near future.

In March, the library was awarded a $230,183 matching state grant through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to expand the library. The township will provide the funding for the other half of the matching grant for a total of $460,000.

The library plans to use the money to convert its big meeting room into four small private spaces meant for studying or tutoring. 

There also will be new HVAC units, roof repairs, electrical upgrades and, Pallotta’s favorite, an outdoor reading garden.

Pallotta said patrons would be able to use the outdoor space, already named the Mazzoni Reading Garden, for reading and studying. It also will be used for library programs.

"That’s the coolest part of it,” Pallotta said.

The library also will move its large meeting room into what currently is the township's preschool. The preschool will move to the former police station. 

The space, which currently is being used for storage, is, like the library, located inside the Cranberry Municipal Building.

Pallotta said she hopes to begin the library expansion project by late spring of 2014. 

“We’re hoping to firm up a time frame really soon,” she said.