Kusalaba Branch Library to Open Valentine’s Day

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County has set a Valentine’s Day opening for its newest branch.

The new Michael Kusalaba Branch Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., will open to the public at 10 a.m. Feb. 14.

A dedication ceremony for the branch is being planned for Feb. 24.

Ground was broken in November 2016 on the $3.78 million branch, which will be part neighborhood library and part technology hub, and feature equipment including a 3-D printer, laser engraver, image transfer equipment and recording studio.

The 11,815-square-foot branch is about double the size of the former West Library branch, which it replaces. It also will serve as the base of the system’s Pop-Up Library service.

The branch is named for the late Michael Kusalaba. The Michael Kusalaba Foundation, a fund managed by the Youngstown Foundation manages, donated $1.68 million toward the new branch.

In addition, the Slanina family, through the Youngstown Foundation, recently donated $10,000 to sponsor the branch’s community foyer. Donations continue to come in and sponsorships of various areas of the library are still available, library officials said.

From left are John Slanina; Sandra Slanina; Jack Slanina; (from left, back) David Slanina; Jan Strasfeld, executive director, Youngstown Foundation, presenting the check to Aimee Fifarek, library executive director; and Deborah Liptak, library development director.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.