Cranberry Library Getting a New Look—And a Coffee Bar— in 2012

patrons could be sipping on caffeine while enjoying their bestsellers before the year’s end.

Library Director Leslie Pallotta said plans are in the works to give the library a facelift in 2012, and that includes adding a much-anticipated coffee bar.

“I think since the day I started here I’ve been asked why we don’t have a coffee bar,” she said.

The children’s section of the library on Tuesday received a fresh coat of spring-green paint. Pallotta said the orange carpet in the children's area will be replaced with a bright green rug. Some of the furniture in the children’s area also might be reupholstered, and Pallotta said the library is looking to replace older toys.

“We added that wing on about 12 years ago now,” she said of the children’s area. “With constant daily use, it gets tired and worn looking. It was just time to do a little facelift back there.”

Pallotta said she hopes to have the coffee bar, which would be near the library’s entrance inside the in place before the second half of the year. While the staff still is exploring options for what type to install, one thing it won’t include is a barista.

“It’s definitely going to be some sort of self-serve type machine,” Pallotta said.

The director said the updates are possible thanks to an increase in Cranberry Township funding. In December, the township’s board of supervisors that includes in real estate taxes.

Of that, the library is set to receive the proceeds of 0.25 mills. Officials said the funding dedicated to the library would help restore and a reduction in funds from Butler County.

Last January, the library slashed operation hours and began charging fees for services that once were free. With the new funding in place, Pallotta said the library would be able to rescind a $1 checkout fee for DVDs.

She called instituting the DVD fee in 2011 one of the most controversial decisions of her career.

“A small piece of that is we truly believe library services should be free, so that’s a huge thing for us to have been able to do this year,” she said.

The library will continue with last year’s decision to cut costs by closing an hour earlier Mondays through Thursdays. Pallotta said the library would consider restoring the hours later in 2012.

“Because we’ve chosen to do the special projects this year, we decided to delay the other changes,” she said.

Pallotta said the library plans to add to its electronic books collection. She called herself incredibly grateful for the township’s additional support in 2012. Prior to this year, township officials already annually dedicated a line item of 0.75 mills in the budget for the library.

“I know I am the luckiest librarian in the state of Pennsylvania,” she said. “I’ve never, ever worked in a community that has been so supportive of its library.”