Bridgeville Public Library has received growing support and more volunteers in the few months since the community learned it was facing financial problems.

Some people are offering money, others are volunteering their time to help out the library board and one South Fayette man even spent the day cutting the grass with a push mower.

“People are willing to do almost anything to help us out,” said Joyce Heinrich, who was hired recently to spearhead fundraising efforts. “That’s what I’m finding while trying to organize all of this.”

The library had to slash its staff and operating times in May because of budget and fundraising problems after the new building opened in early 2011. But Heinrich said people from Bridgeville and neighboring communities are coming out of the woodwork to offer time and new ideas to save the struggling library.

Three people from South Fayette, Collier and Bridgeville have offered to volunteer their time to sit on the library’s advisory board, and could eventually move up to main board in time. The library board meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the new McMillen Street facility.

“We have had more people step up and volunteer,” Heinrich said. “The library is taking advantage of people and their skill sets. We need to recognize that there are a lot of opportunities out there and we need to organize them.”

They’re now approaching small businesses for sponsorships that could help the library pay for two people to staff the building for a few hours on Sunday. Heinrich said they have received a few donations and one local business is sponsoring a new 50th anniversary sign for the library.

They’re now getting ready to begin their annual “letter campaign” to solicit funds and support from the community. Heinrich hopes Bridgeville residents and their neighbors will respond to save the beautiful new facility that opened in January 2011.

“We really need to bring in people who are part of our actual patronage rather than just from Bridgeville,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Anyone who wants to donate money or volunteer for the library is asked to call 412-221-3737 or email Heinrich at jch3762@yahoo.com.

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