Delmont's new library set for grand opening

Through grants, community donations and fundraising, Delmont Public Library officials raised more than $1 million in four years and, this week, they will welcome the public into a new library building.

Large benefactors came in the form of a $400,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and a matching challenge by Delmont resident Bill Lendl and his family that helped raise an additional $100,000.

The new library is 4,150 square feet with several “green” features, including solar paneling, LED lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, two charging stations out front for electric vehicles and a cistern that will collect stormwater from the roof to use for irrigation, landscaping and watering the library’s butterfly garden.

On Thursday, library officials will begin a three-day grand opening, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new building at 75 School St.

“We’re spreading out the grand opening for health and safety, but the main celebration will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 23,” librarian Denni Grassel said. “We’ll have refreshments and crafts for kids.”

Following the grand opening, the library will be open for the same modified hours as last month.

In addition, Delmont council meetings will start being held in the library’s new meeting room.

Grassel and her staff also got a jump on outfitting that room with furniture, thanks to a donation of more than $7,000 from residents of Delmont’s Monticello neighborhood, who held a holiday decorating contest to raise money for both the library and Project Bundle Up.

Outgoing library board President David Weber said those and other borough residents are the ones who deserve the credit.

“They really stepped up and embraced this from the beginning,” Weber said. “I think when people come to the grand opening, it’ll be nice to see the new facility, but what we really want them to understand is all the possibilities that come along with it.”