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PITTSTON \u2014 Philip Gristina\u2019s earliest memories of the Pittston Memorial Library (PML) dates back to when he was two-years-old when his parents would take him to the library only to leave with dozens of books to go through.<\/p>\n
Fast forward, in a funny twist of fate, Gristina is now the PML library director, being appointed on March 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents would take me, before the children\u2019s wing was built, and it was still in the reading room and we would check out stacks of books at a time, so I got very familiar with the library and I loved to come here,\u201d Gristina said. \u201cWhen I was in seventh grade, I spent the summer volunteering around the library, so PML was always a close and familiar place to me and I always loved to be here and now I\u2019m working here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2020 Wyoming Seminary graduate completed his college education at Loyola University of Maryland, Baltimore, in 2024.<\/p>\n
Having an interest in the political world, Gristina was a volunteer intern with the finance office for former Congressman Matt Cartwright during his latest bid for reelection.<\/p>\n
When Cartwright lost, Gristina\u2019s turned his attention to the City of Pittston before going back to a place very familiar to him, the PML where he was hired in circulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew there was an opening for the directorship, but I wanted to learn everything first,\u201d Gristina explained. \u201cI wanted to work as a circulation assistant, so I started there. After the library did a search for the director\u2019s job, they could not find a worthy candidate, so the job was offered to staff to fill the position and I volunteer, received training and was offered the job this past March 1.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since talking over the helm at PML, Gristina has adapted well in his leadership role while noting his staff of circulation assistants Janine Rahman and Phyllis Hopkins and Youth Service Coordinator Nancy Doherty.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur programming has really bloomed these past couple months,\u201d Gristina noted. \u201cWe have children\u2019s events every single day of the week and our youth services coordinator, Nancy, is doing a great job running all of those.\u201d<\/p>\n
At this point in time, the Adult Service Coordinator position is vacant, so Gristina and his staff are taking turns running the program.<\/p>\n
There are also teen events available that include movies where attendees will receive bottled water and Pittston Popcorn.<\/p>\n
Adult events such as knitting club and crochet club meet on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a scrapbooking hour that we all have scrapbooking supplies, old magazines, old newspapers and we provide binders for folks and paste,\u201d Gristina said.<\/p>\n
f One aspect of the directorship is fundraising, an area where Gristina gained great knowledge and experience while with the Cartwright campaign.<\/p>\n
The first big fundraiser on the docket is the Jean Yates Awards night, this year being held at The Refinery on Sunday, May 31.<\/p>\n
There will be other key fundraisers throughout the year, check the PML website for upcoming events at pittston.luzernelibraries.org\/events.<\/p>\n
One fundraising event Gristina said the PML is planning a trivia night at the Cosgrove room for an upcoming date in the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrivia is very popular and we believe a trivia night would be great,\u201d Gristina said. \u201cThere will be an admittance fee for that event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gristina is grateful to his staff, City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo, city Chief of Staff & Operations Mary Kroptavich, the PML board of directors and the Friends of the Library.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all have been very accommodating and very eager to help me out in terms of getting grasping how to be a director and how to manage staff and keep this place running the way,\u201d Gristina stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to the Friends of the Library,\u201d Gristina added. \u201cThey\u2019ve helped us through some very large and successful events in programming and I\u2019m really grateful for their volunteer effort, both in person and then the funding that they\u2019re able to bring in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PML is open Monday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday: closed.<\/p>\n
For any information on PML, go to pittston.luzernelibraries.org.<\/p>\n
You may also check out the PML\u2019s Facebook page for the latest news at www.facebook.com\/PittstonLibrary.<\/p>\n
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