Apr 28, 2015 2 min read

McMURRAY – At the request of the Peters Township Public Library Board, the township will take over operation of the library, a move both sides agree makes sense.

The township owns the library building, maintains it and gives the library about $800,000 a year, which accounts for 95 percent of its funding. The library board’s request follows the retirement later this year of Pier Lee, who has been the library director for nearly 40 years.

Michael Silvestri, township manager, said it has become too much for library staff to manage human resource and payroll issues and accounting, items the township is able to handle. The library board has also hired Lee’s successor, Myra Oleynik. Oleynik will retire from her position as librarian at Bower Hill Elementary School at the end of the school year.

There is no timeline for the township’s takeover of the library and any changes are expected to be transparent.

“We need the new librarian to focus on the library. We have the systems in place,” Silvestri said following Monday’s council meeting.

Lee agreed it was the right move to have the township take over certain administrative functions.

“I am very happy about that,” she said.

Lee told her staff Tuesday morning she planned to retire. The Shanghai native received her bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University and a master’s in library science from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to Pittsburgh, Lee was executive director at Virginia Western Community College. She and her husband, William, who is retired, have three grown children and are grandparents.

“I am very thankful and thank the people who have supported me,” said Lee, who will remain with the library as a transitional consultant for a still-to-be-determined amount of time. “I have had a wonderful 40 years.”

During her four decades at the library, Lee has overseen its growth from one room at Peters Township High School to a modern, two-story complex that employs 20, including five full-time workers.

“I know how dedicated she is and I feel fortunate to have met her,” said Margaret Verlato, a library board member. “I am going to miss her tremendously. She is one of those people who put the library first. Everybody loves her.”

Verlato said the search for Lee’s replacement started last fall.

“I like Myra,” Lee said. “The community is fortunate to have her.”