Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport has new director
Michael Chirichella wants people to feel at home whenever they visit the library.
By COLETTE FUNCHES
McKeesport Community Newsroom
When visitors enter the doors of the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport, its newest staff member will likely greet them.
Michael Chirichella, 31, a White Oak resident originally from New Jersey and a fantasy novelist, became the new library director in September following a more than year-long search for a new director.
“I’m a Jersey boy,” he said. Chirichella replaced former director Vince Dalesio, who resigned in summer 2024. Another change in library leadership occurred last month when longtime board president Michael Abraitis resigned. Daniel Lloyd, a McKeesport resident and owner of Lloyd’s of Munhall & Renzie Insurance Agency, who was serving as vice president, was elected president.
A friendly, gregarious fellow, Chirichella is unmarried and has no children. He has written two self-published books. “Deadly Nights on the Island,” published in 2019, is a supernatural mystery about a vampire named Felicity. The book is currently on the shelf at the library. The second book, “A Partnership of Highlight and Shadow,” published in 2023, is a fantasy about magic. Michael likes mythology and folklore.
“Mythology is known for being fictional,” Chirichella said. “Zeus is not real.”
His favorite folklore character is “Mothman.” “He is like a giant moth with a person’s body,” he said. “There is a statue of this giant winged guy in West Virginia.”
Chirichella became interested in a library career when his grandfather retired from working as an administrator at IBM. He later found a job working at a library.
“I had just graduated from college, and he put me on the path. My grandfather’s imagination led me to work for two libraries in the cities of Ridgewood and Bloomfield, New Jersey,” Chirichella said.
“I’m applying for a grant for our library to get more graphic novels (comic books) with pictures for kids to read. McKeesport has a 29% student reading proficiency level. This would be a good way for them to practice reading. I would like to get that number up.”
Chirichella encourages everyone to get a library card and said to bring an ID with an address and name on it.
“It’s free to make one,” he said. “I think everyone should have a library card.”
The McKeesport Library offers many services to the community. Visitors can find books, DVDs, public computers and wi-fi hot spots.
They host events such as “Grandma’s Kitchen,” a monthly cooking demonstration, and “Wise Walks” on Tuesday afternoons at Renzie Park. Other events include afternoon snacks for children after school on Mondays and Wednesdays and “Tech Time,” a monthly class about navigating technology. There is also a small boutique selling fashion accessories to support the library.
“Since Michael came here things have become more positive,” said Kyle Nelson, a White Oak resident who works for the library. “We have new charging stations for the patrons’ cell phones. I’m waiting to see his vision come to life. He has a lot of things that he wants to do and to have it turn out for the best. So while he continues to push forward and make his moves, I will do what I can to support him in every way.”
”I’ve seen several directors come and go,” said clerk Lori Savage. “It’s way too early to tell. It takes a while; it’s not an instantaneous thing.”
She believes he is friendly and gets along well with the people.
“Since the library offers so much to the McKeesport community, I don’t want to take away from any programs that are here,” Chirichella said. “Whatever the people want, | will give them.
“I recently bought a free phone charger stand for patrons to use at the library. I think my No. 1 goal is to make people feel welcomed and feel at home. The library is for the community and I hope everyone loves coming here.”
Colette Funches of McKeesport is studying journalism at Community College of Allegheny County. She is also a member of Tube City Writers, a program of the Mckeesport Community Newsroom.
