April Announcement

I don't know if you pay attention to the news about libraries like I do, but we had bad news yesterday with the entire staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) put on administrative leave by the Executive branch. An earlier Executive Order limited what IMLS was allowed to do, but this further move throws libraries across the country into questionable straits. 

In Pennsylvania, funding from IMLS is just under $5.9 Million and used for 

  • 19 employees that develop and facilitate grant programs for local libraries as well as at the State library to support rare collections, digital collections, and genealogy.

  • Partial funding for Access PA/POWER Library (which also receives some State funding). HSLC, the umbrella organization that covers AccessPA, POWER Library, and other resources to local libraries, covers statewide access to e-resources as well as the state's system for interlibrary loan.

  • Youth services and family grants such as Teen Reading Lounge local library grants, Family Place & Play & Grow local library grants, and summer library program resources like networking/training opportunities and access to the Collaborative Summer Library Program manuals/graphics.

  • Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward initiative that helps libraries to market the work they're already doing with Basic, Health, Financial, Civic & Social, and Information literacy.

  • Professional development resources for library staff to access through OCLC WebJunction, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofits (PANO) content, PCI webinars on timely topics, and the Ryan Dowd Homeless Academy which offers a wider scope of content than the title implies.

The state funding we receive isn't at stake, but what we are able to do as libraries will be shaken. We'll do what libraries always do, which is the best with what we have, but now would be a good time to "Show Up For Libraries" by checking out the American Library Association's website with ideas for ways you can support libraries. National Library Week is April 6-12, so share your library story!

If you haven't finished your taxes, they're due April 15! We still have some of the 1040 and 1040SR forms with instruction booklets here are the library. You can print other forms you might need though there is charge for printing, or use our wifi or computers to fill out your taxes online. Our wifi reaches into our parking lot even when we're closed.

The library will be closed on Good Friday, but we are open the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter.

I hope to see you soon!

Jeanne Ball, Director

Mandy Graul