Important Notice

Due to the excessive heat, the bookmobile will not be in service today (7/21/2011) or tomorrow (7/22/2011). The generator and airconditioners cannot keep up with the high temperatures and we do not want to endanger any patrons' or staff members' health by inviting the use of this mobile library. The Book Buggy continues to be in service at this time.

Since Excessive Heat Warnings expire over the weekend, we hope the bookmobile will be back on its normal summer schedule on Monday.

Some of our libraries are also struggling to keep down their temperatures. Please bear with the 80 degree days internally when they occur.

Thank you.

Preschool Bookmobile Coming Soon

This week Franklin County Library System purchased a lightly-used health-screening vehicle from Franklin County for a sealed bid of $20,000. After interior refurbishment, mechanical service, and repainting are complete, the 2002 specialty van with less than 2,000 miles on it, will hit the road as FCLS's new preschool bookvan.

We expect to be able to complete the work, and put the preschool bookvan into operation before the end of 2008, thanks to the support of Patricia and Michael Hurt, T. B. Woods, Altra Industrial Motion, Genstar LLC, the Rotary Clubs of Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, and Waynesboro, and Franklin County government. $42,000 is in hand to pay for the van and refurbishment, with another $58,000 committed to the project over the next 4 years.

The goal of the preschool bookvan is to expand outreach service to additional preschool educational and childcare centers throughout Franklin County. If you represent such a facility and would like to be considered for the expanded service later this year, please contact Bookmobile/Outreach Librarian Amanda Flagle, at aflagle@fclspa.org or 264-9863, who is overseeing the project.

Library News

Did you know that:

• Grove Family Library will be open more hours starting March 3?
• Besore Memorial Library's new director Laura Greenlee is taking up her post when Barb Schuit leaves on February 22?
• Coyle Free Library is offering Spanish for English-speakers on Fridays at 1:00 p.m? Class size is limited, so contact Raphael at 263-1054 to register.
• Alexander Hamilton Library recently hired a new children's librarian, Emily Sharp
• Plans for a new preschool bookmobile are under way with financial help from our friends at T.B. Woods, Altra Industrial Motion, Genstar, and the Rotary Clubs of Franklin County?
• Governor Rendell released his 2008-2009 budget recommendation with a modest increase for public libraries, still not enough to earn Franklin County public libraries the State Aid increase to match the recent increase by the County Commissioners?