Leechburg Public Library reopening on Tuesday

Leechburg Public Library is scheduled to reopen Tuesday inside Leechburg Junior/Senior High School, just in time to celebrate the library’s 93rd birthday, the new library board said.

The library abruptly closed May 30. Since then, the new board of directors was formed and numerous volunteers stepped up to keep the library alive.

The space has been cleaned and reorganized, library board President Karen Freilino said. Many of the books donated in memory of loved ones were returned to the shelves.

She said regular hours will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The library first opened on Sept. 7, 1926, records show.

Freilino said the new board received great cooperation from the Leechburg Area School District.

Library hours are limited to times other than when students are in school.

The board is discussing how it can add Saturday hours at some point.

The location inside a school is unusual. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at Washington, D.C., the library is one of only two such libraries operating inside schools in the state. The state has fewer than 500 public libraries.

Nationwide, there are only 86 public libraries located inside schools from among the more than 9,200 public libraries.