I would like to personaly thank all the library supporters who marched in the Chambersburg parade with me on Saturday. It was great! People responded well to us, especially to the "Cat in the Hat" and the Kindly Canines. Every person was impotant, because we were able to spread out and greet the crowds. What a wonderful expression of support for public libraries!
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Chambersburg Reads 2010
Chambersburg Reads to Inspire Service kicks off Monday, September 13 (National Literacy Day), 7:00 p.m. at Franklin Firehouse, with "Rising Stars: Celebrate Community Volunteerism". Join me there to hear award-winning motivational speaker Kathy Silks. You may know her from WITF, one of the organizers of the local "Reading Rainbow" programs of the 1990s. She is terrific! We will also present awards to 11 deserving local community volunteers and get a glimpse of their personal inspirational stories.
This event is being sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Franklin Fire Company, RSVP Capital Region, and the Chambersburg Reads Partners.
The next scheduled event is a Mural Painting Workshop at Grove Family Library on Saturday morning, September 25. Marti Yeager of Fayettville is the instructor. Please reserve your spot by September 20. (click website link below)
For more information on the calendar of events, recommended reading, organizations that need volunteers, and our sponsors visit Chambersburg Reads website . Chambersburg Reads is a two-month regional community reading program for Franklin and Fulton Counties.
Change Matters, You Can Make a Difference!
Hi, Everyone,
As you have no doubt already heard, the state has cut public libraries again this fiscal year. We will be operating on about $16,000 in invested annual appeal funds in 2010 to keep the status quo in programs, operating schedules, staff and new materials. Over the 2-year period, Franklin County has lost a total of over $250,000 per year in state funding to local public libraries. This is one-eighth of our previous budget.
We just heard that to balance the cuts in federal dollars to PA, Governor Rendeel is cutting public library funding by an additional 1.9%, immediately.
Even your spare change will make a difference. We figured out that if each person using each library through less than $1.00 into the donation jar on each visit to his/her favorite library over the following year, we could meet the budget this year and next year. Awesome thought! Maybe it is doable. Please pick up the "Change Matters" bookmarks at your library desk over the course of the next month our two and consider helping us meet a level 2011 budget.
As you have no doubt already heard, the state has cut public libraries again this fiscal year. We will be operating on about $16,000 in invested annual appeal funds in 2010 to keep the status quo in programs, operating schedules, staff and new materials. Over the 2-year period, Franklin County has lost a total of over $250,000 per year in state funding to local public libraries. This is one-eighth of our previous budget.
We just heard that to balance the cuts in federal dollars to PA, Governor Rendeel is cutting public library funding by an additional 1.9%, immediately.
Even your spare change will make a difference. We figured out that if each person using each library through less than $1.00 into the donation jar on each visit to his/her favorite library over the following year, we could meet the budget this year and next year. Awesome thought! Maybe it is doable. Please pick up the "Change Matters" bookmarks at your library desk over the course of the next month our two and consider helping us meet a level 2011 budget.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Senate Proposes Additional 9% Cut to PA Public Libraries
Save Your Library Services -- Contact your PA Representative Today
Today we have learned that the PA Senate passsed a state budget including another 9% cut in the public library subsidy (among other library funding cuts). Following the disproportionate cuts of 21% in last year's state budget, this is the straw that will break many of the library services and programs that you know and love. That would make the 2010-2011 cut about $61,000 on top of the almost $200,000 cut in state funds to Franklin County public libraries from 2009-2010, bring the total cut over a 2-year period to about $255,000. That is the value of 25 years of summer reading programs or more than 10 full-time staff members -- 350 per week, or approximately 175 hours of library operations, since we cannot open a library without 2 people on duty. Last year we cut about 35 hours of library operation per week across the county.
The irony is that while the Senate is voting to cut more money from public libraries they are also supporting large increases in "educational spending". Public libraries are an important part of the Department of Education, yet we continually get the crumbs that fall from the table of the rest of that Department.
Please contact your PA legistlators today, and let them know that this is unacceptable. Not only do public libraries serve as "everyone's college" for life, but they provide valuable information and literacy support to formal education in our schools and colleges. Indeed, library use continues to grow as the economy struggles. Urge your representatives to halt the disproportionate chopping of public library funding.
Today we have learned that the PA Senate passsed a state budget including another 9% cut in the public library subsidy (among other library funding cuts). Following the disproportionate cuts of 21% in last year's state budget, this is the straw that will break many of the library services and programs that you know and love. That would make the 2010-2011 cut about $61,000 on top of the almost $200,000 cut in state funds to Franklin County public libraries from 2009-2010, bring the total cut over a 2-year period to about $255,000. That is the value of 25 years of summer reading programs or more than 10 full-time staff members -- 350 per week, or approximately 175 hours of library operations, since we cannot open a library without 2 people on duty. Last year we cut about 35 hours of library operation per week across the county.
The irony is that while the Senate is voting to cut more money from public libraries they are also supporting large increases in "educational spending". Public libraries are an important part of the Department of Education, yet we continually get the crumbs that fall from the table of the rest of that Department.
Please contact your PA legistlators today, and let them know that this is unacceptable. Not only do public libraries serve as "everyone's college" for life, but they provide valuable information and literacy support to formal education in our schools and colleges. Indeed, library use continues to grow as the economy struggles. Urge your representatives to halt the disproportionate chopping of public library funding.
Monday, June 28, 2010
How the Public Uses Library Computers to Help Get Jobs
Results from Gates Foundation National Study...
Seventy-seven million Americans age 14 or older---equivalent to one-third of our population---use public library computers or wireless networks, says a new study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation titled: Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access in U.S. Libraries. Of this group, 40% search for jobs and fill out applications, 37% research health issues for themselves or their families, and 42% find help with educational research or completing homework assignments.
Another key finding identifies low-income adults as more likely to rely on the public library as their sole access to computers and the Internet than any other group.
Unfortunately, access to public library services in Pennsylvania is shrinking due to budget cuts at the state and local level despite the fact that millions of constituents see libraries as essential tools to connect them to opportunity.For the 2010-2011 state budget, the Pennsylvania Library Association urges Governor Rendell, State Senators and State Representatives to restore access to much needed library services for their constituents. Take Action Now.
Seventy-seven million Americans age 14 or older---equivalent to one-third of our population---use public library computers or wireless networks, says a new study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation titled: Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access in U.S. Libraries. Of this group, 40% search for jobs and fill out applications, 37% research health issues for themselves or their families, and 42% find help with educational research or completing homework assignments.
Another key finding identifies low-income adults as more likely to rely on the public library as their sole access to computers and the Internet than any other group.
Unfortunately, access to public library services in Pennsylvania is shrinking due to budget cuts at the state and local level despite the fact that millions of constituents see libraries as essential tools to connect them to opportunity.For the 2010-2011 state budget, the Pennsylvania Library Association urges Governor Rendell, State Senators and State Representatives to restore access to much needed library services for their constituents. Take Action Now.
House Tour
Many thanks to everyone that participated in the house tour yesterday, from the generous home-owners, to the wonderful volunteers and committee members, to our sponsors Wolf Furniture and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, to those that purchased advertising, and to everyone who went on the tour and/or bought raffle tickets. By the time all is said and done, we will have cleared almost $7000 with the event.
Thank you, one and all!
Thank you, one and all!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Have Fun and Help, This Weekend
Tickets are still available for the Annual Chambersburg Library Home Tour this Sunday, June 27, from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Six awesome homes to tour, all for $20! Support your Chambersburg library and enjoy yourself at the same time! Tickets are at Coyle Free and Grove Family Libraries. Those libraries will be open during the tour and will probably have tickets to sell that day. However, when the ticket supply runs out, no more will be made, so get yours today to be sure.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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