Bridgeville Library Board Could See Big Changes

The board met Tuesday night to discuss its situation and how it will raise enough money to keep the new $4 million building operating. This is the second of three stories that will appear this week on Chartiers Valley Patch. , and on Friday we'll examine why financing problems led to the deep cutbacks.

There could be big changes to the Bridgeville library’s .

The board is looking for new members and fresh blood to help solve a major problem with fundraising issues that are crippling .

Some think changes need to be made sooner rather than later.

“As a group, I think significant, immediate and major changes need to be made so this library can survive,” said Joyce Heinrich, who is on the library’s secondary advisory board. “Eighteen months have gone by and we’ve raised no money. None.”

Nino Petrocelli Sr., who was instrumental in building the new library and is also , said he’s ready to move on if others are willing to take his place.

“I’m ready,” Petrocelli said. “I am ready if someone wants to take my place (now). If you want me to stay in touch or be on the advisory board. My heart is still here.”

One of those people who wants to bring a fresh approach is Mike Aquilina, . Although he now lives in Shadyside, he said his family’s deep roots with the library have motivated him to find solutions to save the institution after he found out the library was facing major financial problems.

“I know a lot of people in the community did not know that money was so tight and programs had to be cut,” Aquilina said.

Still, he offered to take a position on the board to help save the library.

But some residents think there need to be more changes. Some called for Mary Weise to also leave the board because she is a member of the borough council and is heavily involved with the .

Heinrich thinks those members need to move on because of potential conflicts of interest when competing for dwindling fundraising and grant money.

“It’s all got to be cleaned up,” Heinrich said. “There’s too much conflict of interest. You’re all vying for the same amount of money.”

Weise disputed that notion, saying the historical society relies heavily on volunteers.

“We have 20 to 25 volunteers,” Weise said. “We are not vying for the same money.”

Only three of the seven library board members attended Tuesday night’s monthly meeting, which led to questions from residents about their dedication to the cause .

The meeting wouldn’t have had enough people to vote on issues if former member Becky Wisbon, who said she is now rejoining the board, hadn’t come and served as secretary.

She hopes new people will bring new ideas.

“It’s going to get fixed,” Wisbon said. “Just come and bring an idea, an approach or place we haven’t been.”

Read Chartiers Valley Patch on Friday for the final story about why the library had to make drastic cuts.

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