Weather Closing

Urgent Notice:  Franklin County Library System libraries are now CLOSED for Monday, October 30.  Heavy rains are due to arrive early this morning, followed soon by the winds  If we receive a direct hit from the storm, there is a likelihood the libraries may also be closed on Tuesday.  Please check ahead by phone before venturing out into the storm to visit a library.  Please stay safe.

Bookmobile and book buggy runs are cancelled for Monday and Tuesday.

Libraries in the Time of the Storm

As of this point in time, we hope to have your library open at it's normal time tomorrow.  We may close early in the afternoon, or whenever the winds start to rise, however.  Please phone your library before venturing out to go there during the course of the storm.  We will try to post updates here, as long as there is electricity and internet connectivity to do so.

Thank you, and stay safe during the storm.

Thank You

Please bear with me, if you have had difficulty reaching me this summer.  I have been out of the office off and on due to family health issues.  If you leave a message in my email bdcrouse@fclspa.org or on my work voicemail 717-709-0282 ext. 212, I will follow up within 48 hours.  If your need is urgent, you can contact Amy or Erica in the Business Office, extensions 208 and 209 respectively, or Denice at Coyle 717-263-1054 ext.  209.  Thank you very much.  I greatly appreciate it.  Your communications are important to me.

Help Wanted

Part Time Job Opening August 16:


Preschool Bookmobile Assistant – Ability to drive 30 ft. bookmobile. Experience working with preschoolers and teachers. Must lift 40 lb. totes and use library computer system. HS diploma required. Day shifts 18 hours/week. $7.50 - $8/hour. Send resume to: Human Resources, Franklin County Library System, 101 Ragged Edge Road South, Chambersburg, PA 17202

Besore Library Closing at 2:30, Friday

Due to the heat advisory and crippled air conditioning, Besore Library is closing this afternoon, effective at 2:30.  Temperatures inside the building now exceed 85 degrees, making everyone uncomfortable.  It is unsafe for library staff to continue to work in these conditions.

We hope to have the library open from 9-1 tomorrow, Saturday, after the AC recovers during the night.  Please check here for updates.

Thank you.

Thank You American Legion Post 612

Thank you to our friends at Detrich-Brechbill American Legion Post 612, St. Thomas, for your generous gift of $1000 to St. Thomas Library for summer reading program and collection expenses.  Your continued support is a blessing!

Summer Kick Off

Franklin County Library System joins many other members of Healthy Communities Partnership providing youth activities and information on summer programs today from 4 - 7 p.m. Check out the library's "Own the Night" obtacle course BLINDFOLDED! Pick up a free gift to start out your summer.  The festivities will be in Waters' Park on South Second Street, Chambersburg.  Join me there.

Chambersburg First Friday Library Stand, June 1

Due to the severe weather forecast the library will NOT have a stand at Chambersburg 1st Friday event tonight, June 1. Rain and wind does not work well with books, papers and our planned children's crafts. Hope to see you at Healthy Communities Partnership Drug-Free Summer Kick-Off event in Waters Park on June 11, beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Library House Tour Needs You!

This year's home tour is too good to miss!  Join me in visiting 5 great homes and 1 beautiful garden.  Coyle and Grove Libraries need your participation to make the 2012 home tour a success.  Every dollar spent on a tour booklet goes straight to those to libraries.  This year, in particular, every fundraising dollar counts as we deal with the $250,000 per year cut the state made in our Franklin County public library funding.  Get your tourbooks right away, because quantities are limited.  Cost is $20 per person. Then enjoy the afternoon of June 3, touring the homes at your own pace.  Take a vanful and make it a party!  My family always does.

Thank you! Hope to see you there!

Home Tour 2012

I would like to invite all of you to enjoy the 2012 Home Tour to benefit Coyle Free and Grove Family Libraries on Sunday, June 3, from noon to 5:00.  Pick up a brochure at area libraries, and purchase your tour booklets for $20 each at Coyle or Grove through June 2, while supplies last.  The tour is a great adventure whether you are interested in homes or gardens, or even artwork.  With the assistance of our sponsors, all proceeds will benefit the libraries.  Thanks to Graphics Universal for supporting our event!

Fall Book Sale

With your help our fall book sale will double in size this year. We are now ready to collect and sort book donations. Our ability to handle a larger quantity is the result of a move to space at the Chambersburg Mall. The sale will be open an extra day, too, October 25-28.

You may donate up to 40 books per trip to your local library. For larger amounts, please call 709-0282 ext. 211, to arrange drop off location.

We can also use volunteers, from now until the sale, for committee work, planning, sorting, set up, sale staff, and clean up. The Mall is giving us more time do complete all these tasks, so we won't be as rushed. Please call 709-0282 ext. 209 if you are available to volunteer for any of these tasks.

Watch the Book Sale Blog for more details as plans unfold.

Celebrate Libraries!

April 8-14 is National Library Week and Franklin County Public Library Week. Thank you for supporting your local library! In a time of economic struggles, people are using our local libraries and online library services more than ever. Our number of library visits is way up, and our computer use inhouse and out has jumped. Summer reading program participation also increased in 2011.
Please watch for your annual appeal letter in the mail later this month, and support your Franklin County public library generously this year. In this time, when library customers seek broader diversity in the format of their literature and information, Pennsylvania government is looking to cut their public library subsidy by an additional 5%, which would bring the total annual cut to Franklin County library services very close to $300,000. Franklin County Library System has already tightened its belt by $250,000 a year to avoid spending funds we simply don't have. We work hard to use every dollar wisely. Please use this National Library Week, County Public Library Week, and the month of April as a whole to support your love of libraries by acting as an advocate for state library subsidy maintenance and giving what you can to fill the current gaps.
Thank you, the residents of Franklin County, for helping us to help you! Happy Library Week!

Governor's Budget Proposal Cuts Libraries, Again

If you have been wondering what is in Governor Corbett's 2012-13 PA budget proposal for public libraries, the wait is over. His proposal once again cuts funding to libraries in the commonwealth, this time by an additional 5%.

For FLCS, this means another $30,000+ chopped from our 2013 budget projection. If we had not gotten a massive cut of $250,000 per year 2 years ago, this would not be a major problem, but a cumulative loss of about 1/7 of our annual operating funds over a period of just 3 years is tragic. We have already cut and re-allocated funds and staff members to the point where many librarians our now doing 3 people's jobs.

While everyone knows money is tight everwhere, haven't we done our share of cutting already? Libraries are the only places where all people can better themselves in a bad economy. Please support the important work of libraries by advocating stable state funding to public libraries.

Thank you.

Libraries to Open on Time...Urge Caution

This morning, January 23, FCLS staff will do their best to have the libraries open on time. We urge caution on our parking lots and sidewalks until the temperature clears the freezing point, which should happen by about 9:00. Please check the conditions in your area before leaving home.

Please be careful this morning on all roadways and sidewalks.

Snow/Ice Delay!!!!

FCLS libraries will delay opening this morning, Saturday, January 21, until 10:00 to check the safety of sidewalks and parking lots for our customers and staff. Please stay home and stay safe until the storm has passed. Sometimes it is even dangerous to approach our bookdrops in icy conditions. We will always given you a grace day if your materials become overdue during winter weather.

Libraries included are: Coyle Free, Grove Family, Besore Memorial, Alexander Hamilton, St. Thomas, and Fort Loudon.

Library Holidays

Our libraries will be closed Friday, December 23, through Monday, December 26, 2011 for Christmas, then will close at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, to re-open at their normal times on Tuesday, January 2. Thank you for allowing our staff to spend time over the holidays with their families.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Downloadable Books

This week, OverDrive e-book downloads join One-Click Digital audiobook downloads on our website.

Yes! A new format of the book debuts at Franklin County Library System and Fulton County Library.

Check out the variety of titles immediately available. More will be added on a monthly basis. You will notice they are available in as many as 3 different forms, Epub, Pdf, and Kindle. There are directions through the OverDrive link to help you register and download the format of your choice. These books are on loan from Franklin County Library System for FREE. The advent of the free library e-book download has come to our area.

We welcome your requests of titles at your local library or through my email address bdcrouse@fclspa.org. If you make the request at a local library desk make sure you indicate your format preference: e-book, e-audiobook; Epub, Pdf, or Kindle. Not all titles are readily available through library vendors in any or all formats, so please be patient with us as we build our collection.

We have not and are not abandoning the paper book. Many of our readers love to hold a traditional book in their hands. However, we are forced to remember that at one time literature was on stone or papyrus, so why not electronic devices, too? As always, we will continue to respond to your needs.

Strategic Planning Progress

Our consultant from Tweed-Weber has led discussions of the wonderful survey input you provided with groups of staff and board leaders. The priorities for the next three years are developing out of the suggestions that you have made.

Thank you so much for your compliments to our staff and your overwhelming response that our libraries are important to you and your communities! We value your input and you as customers.

The winner of the Color Nook is being contacted, and we will make a public announcement very soon.

I will also update you when the plan is complete.

Gearing Up

Everyone is busy gearing up for the huge book sale this coming weekend. Don't miss the best selection, brownies and coffee on Friday, starting at 4:00 p.m.

Coming October 28-30...FCLS Book Sale

Wondering where to get reading materials with all the local bookstores closing? Check out our great fall book sale just two weekends from now! More than 20,000 books of all genres to choose from...great prices from $0.25 to $3.00 per book, collectible books available by silent auction. No junk! Just great reading materials, VHS, and more! Chidlren's books, inspirational books, and many of your favorite authors an subjects!

Plus brownies and gourmet coffee on Friday, family activities, lunch and bake sale on Saturday, then bargains on Sunday.

The sale is sponosered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Budget Self Storage, and Estate Pro.

Sale benefits library improvements at Coyle, Grove, Besore, St. Thomas, Ft. Loudon, and on the bookmobiles.