Delmont library's 'soft' grand opening continues through Saturday

The new Delmont Public Library building is a tribute to the people who helped build its past and a monument to future possibilities.

The library began the first day of a three-day soft grand opening Thursday, spreading out the celebration in light of health and safety concerns over covid-19. Grand opening events also will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

After spending much of December moving shelves, books and other materials, the new 4,150-square-foot building is now open and boasts a community meeting room, loads of environmentally friendly features such as geothermal heating and solar panels and an expanded children’s area.

That last item is especially exciting for children’s services coordinator Diane Resnick.

“It’s so big and airy, and the kids have room to spread out, play and explore,” Resnick said. The children’s area is decorated with a nature mural that spans three walls, created by Greensburg artist Brian McCall, and it also features a large monarch butterfly sculpture.

“The butterfly was donated by Gail Rohrbacher’s husband, Harry,” librarian Denni Grassel said.

Gail Rohrbacher, a longtime library patron, died in 2018 of injuries sustained when she was struck by a car in the Delmont Walmart parking lot.

Rohrbacher was one of the library’s original board members, and was among the most-prolific members of the “Library Angels” — patrons who purchase books and donate them to the library’s collection after reading them.

The mural features a bright yellow sun as well, a tribute to former mayor, councilman and borough resident Jim Davis, another longtime library supporter.

“At the annual Apple Hill social, Jim would always sing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ to his wife Charlene,” Grassel said Thursday. “Charlene was here this morning, and I showed it to her. We both had a good cry.”

Delmont Borough Council holds its meetings in the new library’s community room.

Grassel and her staff 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 the library and Project Bundle Up.

While the library’s hours remain limited, Grassel and Resnick are looking forward to taking advantage of their new surroundings.

“The community waited for a long time for this, and they helped us out,” Resnick said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be here right now.”