2010 Update

Thank you, one and all, for helping the library system meet its Annual Appeal goals for 2009. We cleared the $50.000 mark during the week before Christmas! On December 31 the 2009 Annual Appeal donations reached $50,705, $90 more than in 2008, even in this tough economy. Thank you very much for giving from the depth of your hearts. Truly Franklin County residents love their libraries!

While state funding has been cut to Franklin County public libraries, indeed to libraries all over the state, our vision for serving you continues to be foremost in our hearts and minds.

All of our full-service libraries have lost some staff, but we are developing in other ways. We are offering you more online databases and upgrading our website and library management system to make it easier for you to access the resources and information you need. Our libraries are incorporating music and movement into preschool storytimes through funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. The program is locally coordinated by Lori Cooley, our new Book Buggy manager (717) 264-9863 ext. 202. We are working with Early Childhood partners to create the first Franklin County Infant/Toddler Learning Calendar. And wait until you see what's coming in 2010 as Chambersburg/Franklin County Reads!

Please bear with the interuption of some of our normal website services and the recent adjustments in library hours to make it possible for library staff members to be available to serve you. We are working harder than ever to give you the best service possible.

Special Projects

The library system has been awarded grants from the national Institute for Museum and Library Services to develop Grove Family Library's teen collection and to introduce "In Motion @ Your Public Library" to all preschool storytime participants. The state government has decided to withhold our payments of federal grant money until the PA budget is resolved, delaying implementation of these two exciting projects.

Just to keep you up to speed, however, Lou Cowles and Grove staff have placed one order for new teen reads with their initial grant payment. So watch for the new items and visti their reorganized Teen Center.

We have appointed Lori Cooley the coordinator of the preschool "In Motion" project, ordered yoga mats from Dunhams at a nice discount, and prepared orders for program and collection materials to support the project. Hopefully, we will still be able to introduce the program this fall in most of Franklin County's libraries.

Early Learning Awards

Franklin County Library System earned two Pennsylvania Library Association Early Learning Awards in April. We celebrate this achievement, especially since it was our county's first time to receive the prestigious honor.

Amanda Flagle and Rose Trombetta accepted the award for their 2008 "One Book, Every Young Child" outreach programs with preschools in the area. Bernice Crouse and representatives of our Head Start partnership received the award for our joint program assisting librarians, teachers, caregivers, and parents with meeting the social and emotional needs of preschoolers. Components of this program include a website and blog for those interested in the topic -- blog at http://www.frwholechild.blogspot.com/ , website at http://www.freewebs.com/frwholechild . This has become one of our busiest blogs.

Our winners were photographed with Wendell and Florence Minor, illustrator and author of PA's 2009 One Book, Every Young Child selection, If You Were a Penguin.

Head Start representatives are Terri Monn, Jennifer Rodgers, and Kay Witmer, who designed the Whole Child project with Bernice Crouse at a summer 2008 Governor's Institute.

New Head Start Partnership

I am excited to tell you about a new project that developed out of my attendance at the Governor's Institute on Pre-K learning last week. Three teachers from Franklin County Head Start and I were on a team together, which decided to create a new online support group of early childhood educators, caregivers, and children's public library staff. We will be sharing information on a new blog at http://www.frcowholechild.blogspot.com/. Look there for information on the social and emotional wellness of preschoolers and ideas on how to apply that information to preschool education and parenting. We hope to eventually create a new webpage with links to great whole child resources online.

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?