Hours and Holidays
Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 12pm—6pm
Fridays: 10am—4pm
Saturdays: 10am—2pm
*We ARE open for browsing and checkouts! Public computers are by appointment only. Masks and social distancing are required. Porch pickup is still available by request.
Holiday Schedule
Easter: Closed Good Friday, April 2
Memorial Day: Closed May 31
Independence Monday: Closed July 5
Labor Day: Closed September 6
Thanksgiving: Closed Nov 25 & 26
Christmas: Closed December 24 & 25
New Year’s: Closed December 31 & January 1
Mission and History
Mission
Our mission is to enrich the lives of our community members by creating an environment for growth, discovery and connection.
West Pittston Library History
The oldest library in Luzerne County, the West Pittston Library was founded on September 12, 1873 largely through the work of professor W. J. Bruce and O. F. Gaines. Originally the West Pittston Library was known as the Pittston Library Association. The library consisted of two bookshelves housed in the Pittston Post Office on Main Street, Pittston. From the post office, the library was housed in a room in the Miners Bank Building. Then in 1899, the library was moved to West Pittston. It was furnished in the Brune Block Building on lower Wyoming Avenue.
Volunteers served as librarians until 1916 when the first paid librarian, Antoinette King, was hired. In 1922, the A. B. Brown property was purchased by the library association with the help of the Woman’s Club of West Pittston. The library was moved to the new location in 1924 where it remains today. To better serve the growing and changing community, a wing was added to the library in 1961 through a donation from Edwin F. Ferris. Hurricane Agnes took her toll on the West Pittston Library in 1972. The library was flooded once again in 2011 and after a complete interior renovation, is better than ever with more comfortable seating and study areas.
Librarians have included Antoinette King, Sarah Mason, Elizabeth Kipp, Charlotte Mason, Hazel Poe, Nancy Owens, Elsie Ellis, Myra Simons, Helen Dietrich, Barbara Weiskerger, Lauren Harris Grego, Brad Mahalsky, Marie Hoover, Betty Kasulanis, Barbara Edwards, Anne Ruggles, Barbara Ries, Mary Dotter, Charlene Berti, Jennifer Bromfield, Anne Bramblett, and currently David J. Bauman.
Board and Staff
Board of Trustees
John Panzitta, President
Michael Branley, Vice President
Rosella Fedor, Secretary
Jane Firestine, Treasurer
Tom Campenni
Marilyn Jacobs
Tom Kearns, Jr.
Diane Melvin
Jennifer Moran
Connie Parente
Ellen Quinn
Anne Reilly
Bill Rowe
Steve Sokach
Judy Stevenson
Amy Washo
Emeritus
John Markarian, Joe Burke, Beverly Williams, Cornelia Jones, and Joan Linskey
Staff
Patrons are always complimenting us on our friendly, personalized service. We commend our fabulous staff for their insistence upon excellent customer service.
David Bauman, Director
Leza Thornton, Business Manager
Summer Belles, Youth Services Coordinator
Kendra O’Brien, Adult Program Coordinator
Jes Niemiec, Circulation Assistant
Aren Gonzalez, Circulation Assistant
Briana Scorey, Circulation Assistant
Policies
The following is a description of the West Pittston Library’s patron policies, loan periods, fees and fines.
Luzerne County Library System Behavior Policy
Our libraries are open to the public for the purposes of reading, research, learning, and other enriching activities. Any behavior that disrupts the use of our libraries is strictly prohibited. Behavior that is disruptive to library use includes but is not limited to:
• Any illegal activities
• Sleeping
• Loitering
• Loud or threatening behavior
• Use of tobacco products including e-smoking devices
• Inappropriate use of restrooms, including bathing and shaving
• Theft or damage to library materials, equipment, and buildings
• Creating an unsafe situation with toxic, bulky, or unattended items
• Soliciting, panhandling, selling, petitioning or distribution of materials.
Local libraries may permit exceptions. In addition, parents and guardians, not library staff, are responsible for the care, behavior, and supervision of minor children. Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times. Thank you for helping to make our libraries enjoyable and productive for all. Failure to comply with this policy may result in suspension of library privileges, expulsion from library property, or legal action. Any actions or exceptions are determined by libraries at the local level.
Loan Periods
• Regular Books – 3 weeks and 2 renewals
• New Adult Books – 2 weeks and 2 renewals
• Juvenile Books – 3 weeks and 2 renewals
• Audio Books – 2 weeks and 2 renewals
• DVDs and Videos – 1 week and 1 renewal for 1 week
• Magazines – 1 week
• Out of System Interlibrary – Set by lending library
Fees and Fines
• Audio books, books and magazines – $.25/Day
• Juvenile books -$.10/Day
• DVDs and Videos – $1.00/Day
• Out of system Interlibrary Loans – $.50/Day (Adult and Juvenile)
• Maximum overdue fine – Cost of the item
• Lost, Damaged or Billed item – Cost of the item plus a $10.00 processing fee per item
• Replacement of library card – $3.00
• Replacement barcode – $3.00
NOTE: Once charges on your account have reached $5.00, the system will automatically block you from checking out materials from the West Pittston Library and any other Luzerne County Library. Patrons can pay for the items in question at any Luzerne County Library.
Fax & Copy Services
Fax Services
Outgoing $2.50 for first 2 pages; $1.00 for each additional page
Incoming $.25 per sheet
Copies
Copy Services Copies $.25 for black & white and $.35 for color, per sheet
Computer Printouts $.25 for black & white and $.35 for color, per sheet
Non-profit organizations $.10 per sheet
Scan to Email
$1.00 for every set of 5 pages
Directions
The Library is located at 200 Exeter Avenue, West Pittston, Pennsylvania on the corner of Warren Street and Exeter Avenue. Click here for Google Maps directions. There are signs posted along the roadway on Exeter Avenue. On-street parking is available in front of the library on Warren Street, which is a one-way street. Additional parking is located on the other side of Warren Street, which, from the Water Street Bridge can be accessed by following Luzerne Avenue and taking a right on Warren Street. From the Ft. Jenkin’s bridge, follow Rt. 11 (Exeter Avenue), take a left on Linden Street, a right on Luzerne Avenue and a right on Warren Street. If there is no on-street parking available, you may park in the Presbyterian Church parking lot located along Warren Street.
You can call us at 570-654-9847!
