Libraries Open Today

Dismayed by another school closing? Bring your family to the public library. Our libraries are currently open today, Friday, February 26.

Weather Closing Update

Coyle Free and Grove Family Libraries in Chambersburg will be open 1:00-5:00 p.m. today. St. Thomas and Fort Loudon branches will open at their normal times, but may close at sundown. Alexander Hamilton (Waynesboro), Lilian Besore (Greencastle), and Blue Ridge Summit will be closed all day today. The Bookmobile and Book Buggy are not in operation today. No overdue fines will be charged for books due February 9-11 if they are returned by Friday. The parking lots and at Coyle and Grove have been plowed and salted for your safety.

February 11, 2010 Afternoon Opening

Our staff is making every attempt to get in to open libraries by 1:00 p.m. today. The parking lots at Coyle and Grove will be plowed and salted by noon. However, please call ahead to make sure your local library is open, since local conditions vary and many staff members are snowed in at home.

There will be no overdue fines for today! Please stay safe!

Snowstorm Closing

Please do not attempt to come to Franklin County Library System facilities today, Saturday, February 6, 2010. All the libraries are closed for the duration of the storm. For your safety, do not try to use the bookdrops to return items due today. Fines for today will be forgiven. Return your books early next week, once the snow has been cleared.

Our first concern is your safety, so we hope you enjoy this time at home curled up with a good book. Our online services, including reserves and renewals, continue to be available throughout the snowstorm.

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.

Budget Woes

Well, the verdict is in and public libraries get cut, not just by the 20.1% in State Aid, but in statewide programs like our online databases and reference.

Please lend a hand. If you have thought about giving to the local library of your choice or Franklin County Library System, make the decision "yes" today to assist us with a $175,000 slash in countywide library services. You can mail a check to Franklin County Library System or use the "Donate Now" link on our webpage to make credit card contributions.

We want to provide you with the service that you desire, but losing $175,000 per year is tough! We will be making adjustments in our staff, hours, and programs over the next few months to deal with the problem. Hopefully, those cuts will NOT often be apparent to you. When they are, please bear with us. These cuts are not by our choice. We would actually like to expend services to meet growing needs.

Also, beginning in January, two changes in overdue fines will be implemented: the daily rate will be increased to $0.20 per day per item and a surcharge on postal mailings of overdue notices of $0.50 per letter. We encourage each borrower to register his/her email address with their home library to avoid the snail mail charge. The cost of snail mailing overdue letters is huge!

State Budget for Libraries

Still no news on the PA public library subsidy! We did meet with local officials, donors, and advocates last Friday morning for breakfast at Grove Family Library. We were delighted with the turnout! Breakfast was sponsored by Panera Bread of Chambersburg.

Fifty people turned out to hear my state of the library message, tour the library or Book Buggy, and listen to Representative Kauffman read Our Library by Eve Bunting to a group of storytime preschoolers.

To advocate for your library, use the contact information on our main webpage. Thank you.