Dormont Public Library celebrates 80 years
Heather Abraham and daughter Lila, 2.
Ashley Larrow Roberts paints the face of Nitai Baggon, 6.
Claire Roberts, 7.
John Maggio, Dormont Council president, speaks with Muriel Moreland, president of the Dormont Historical Society.
Rachel Tumushime, 4.
Susan Tusick of Fox Chapel served as architect for the library renovation.
Yes, there can be a silver lining in the cloud of a car crashing into your building.
A little over a year ago, a Volkswagen Rabbit careened off West Liberty Avenue and struck the front of Dormont Public Library, leaving a VW-sized hole.
Shortly before the accident, library director Cindy D’Agostino had applied for a grant to improve access at the front entrance. In turn, the Allegheny County Library Association hired Susan Tusick of Tusick & Associates Architects to review plans for an automatic door.
“Cindy D’Agostino’s concern for her front desk staff and the library was the blast of cold air rushing in when the two pairs of accessible doors opened simultaneously, because the two doors in a series were too close together and one pair was too narrow,” Tusick explains.
The architect suggested that the two separate projects, the accessible doors and the damaged wall, be combined: “The Volkswagen Rabbit hole would now be a new automatic entrance door and the old entrance transformed into study cubbies.”
The library board agreed, and the transformation was complete in time for the October celebration of the institution’s 80th anniversary. Tusick describes the new appearance:
“Natural light streams through the new doors and the new window, creating a cheerful, fresh atmosphere. Now, more circulation space exists at the front desk. To add to the new openness, the old entrance opposite the front desk is a study area with a large window. The cramped front desk is gone and has a view now.”
When community leaders cut the ceremonial ribbon for the new entrance, they opened a new chapter in a story that began in 1936, when a parent-teacher library was organized at Dormont’s old Kelton School. The appropriation to buy books was $25.
Space for the library bounced around a few times before landing on Glenmore Avenue, sharing space temporarily with the YMCA. Following World War II, the library was incorporated, and later the drive started toward building a permanent structure.
The dedication of the current building, at 2950 W. Liberty Ave., took place Dec. 16, 1962.
Fifty-four years later, the ceremonial ribbon has been cut on the new-look library, which continues to perform a vital role in the community. As Joe Costanzo, library board president, said during the October celebration of the 80th anniversary:
“Libraries today help neighborhoods. They are a place where people can find resources and connections to services. They help in job searches. They provide business resources. They help non-English speakers become part of the community. They provide free and low-cost classes that provide opportunities that residents might not have had otherwise. And they are important partners in child education and development.”