Butler, Zelienople libraries receive funding for new spaces
With Butler and Zelienople’s libraries receiving over $600,000 in state grants, both are looking to offer new spaces for their communities to use.
The state’s Department of Education announced Friday, April 3, Zelienople Area Public Library will receive $515,000 to construct a building addition; while Butler Area Public Library will receive $95,131 for creating a public meeting space, updating its heating and cooling system and making accessibility improvements.
The two awards are part of a larger wave of Keystone Grants totaling over $11 million to 27 libraries across 15 counties.
Zelienople library director Cyndi Peluso said Tuesday the half-million will be used to develop an entirely new building on an adjacent lot already owned by the library.
“We’re looking to use it as a dedicated space for our programs. It will have a kitchen so we’d be able to offer cooking classes if we want,” she said.
Peluso said the dedicated space opens opportunities for new programming at the library and will bolster preexisting programs. She said the children’s STEM program will especially benefit from a dedicated space.
She said there are also plans for an outdoor space or garden area.
The timeline for the project is not fully clear, as it will require paperwork and multiple bidding processes before ground can be broken.
“It’s clear to us that the community really wants this. We’re very thankful for our community. They’ve been very generous and supportive of our work,” Peluso said.
She said the new space felt especially important to establish with the amount of growth Zelienople and the surrounding area is seeing.
“There’s a lot of housing being built here in Zelienople and Harmony and the whole surrounding area. We want to meet the needs of our growing community,” she said.
While Butler’s library is not considering a new building or physical expansion, executive director Lori Hinderliter said a portion of its grant award will be used to purchase library pods — enclosed spaces that are installed inside the library.
“We’re hoping to put some of these on our second floor. The ones we’re looking at will primarily be used for small groups and those who need a space for telecommunications,” she said.
Hinderliter said the library will also look to bring automated doors to the first floor. She said after a previous Keystone Grant, the library has already installed them on the second floor.
The last portion of the funds will be used to upgrade the largest of the library’s HVAC system.
“We have three units and in previous years we’ve replaced two. This is our biggest one and it’s well past its projected end of life, so we wanted to make this a priority,” she said.
Hinderliter said the library will get the projects moving as soon as possible, but estimated work would be completed on all three by late summer or early fall.
She also commented that it was “exciting” to see Zelienople receive state funds compared to the last round of awards, when Butler was the sole recipient in the county.
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Dennis O'Grady reads at the Butler Area Public Library on Monday, April 6. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Sharon Thorn reads at the Butler Area Public Library on Monday, April 6. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Dennis O'Grady reads at the Butler Area Public Library on Monday, April 6. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Area Public Library plans to introduce pods to its public meeting space with funds from a grant the library received. The library is seen Monday, April 6, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Area Public Library received grant funding to update and renovate the library. The library is seen Monday, April 6, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Area Public Library received grant funding to update and renovate the library. The library is seen Monday, April 6, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Area Public Library received grant funding to update and renovate the library. The library is seen Monday, April 6, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Area Public Library received grant funding to update and renovate the library. The library is seen Monday, April 6, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Construction is planned for a new extension to the Zelienople Area Public Library. The library is seen Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Construction is planned for a new extension to the Zelienople Area Public Library. The library is seen Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Construction is planned for a new extension to the Zelienople Area Public Library. The library is seen Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cynthia Knoechel reads at the Zelienople Area Public Library on Tuesday, April 7. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
