This Is Serious, Library Champion. We Need You TODAY!
Library Champion,
We need your support and action TODAY!
Our second largest stream of library funding is from the State of Pennsylvania's budget, or for short, State Aid. We qualify to receive roughly $70,000 each year in a one-time lump sum in January. This amount is part of the State of Pennsylvania budget under the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (which is under the PA Department of Education).
The State of Pennsylvania is projecting a $2 Billion (with a B!) shortfall in tax revenue, due in large part to the pandemic. In anticipation of this, we received word that we could expect to receive only 5/12ths of our state aid, roughly $30,000, in January and then the rest later on in the year. Unfortunately, we just received word that we may ONLY get the 5/12ths and not the remainder, leaving us without $40,000 in precious funding.
Do you want to change that and make a difference TODAY? Support the library now.
This all may sound daunting and hopeless, but it's not. You can actually make a direct difference RIGHT NOW and TODAY!
First, you can support the library by making a donation today. You can donate on our website, in-person by cash, credit, debit or by check, or by mail. Every dollar counts and makes a difference! Visit our website or contact us for more information on the different ways you can be a library champion and support the library.
Planned giving is a great way to support the library and ensure your donation not only makes a difference today but lasts for years to come. You can designate the library in your will, making the library a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, donate real estate to the library, and much more. Visit our Planned Giving page on our website to read more.
Second, you can contact your local state representatives. They are the ones responsible for creating our state budget and funding different causes. Reach out to them and ask that they include in the next state budget full funding for public libraries. Below is the contact information for the elected officials in this area. You can view this info on our website under our Advocacy page.
1) Rep. Johnathan D. Hershey (82nd district, serving Juniata County, part of Franklin County, and part of Mifflin County) - 411 Irvis Office Building | House PO Box 202082, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2082 - (717) 783-7830
2) Rep. Kerry A. Benninghoff (171st district serving part of Centre County and part of Mifflin County) - 110 Main Capitol Building | PO Box 202171, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2171 - (717) 783-1918
3) Sen. Jake Corman (34th district, serving Centre, Juniata, Mifflin, and part of Huntingdon county.) - Senate Box 203034, Harrisburg, PA 17120-3034 – (717) 787-1377
Are you from another part of Pennsylvania and unsure who your elected officials are? Click here to find out.
I personally called our elected officials yesterday to inquire about the status of including full funding for public libraries in their next budget. Contacting them puts this on their radar and shows them that public libraries matter in their communities.
I told each of them that reduced funding for libraries would be crippling. Do you agree and want to continue making our library matter? Support the library today.
Our library board of trustees and I are working on drafting our 2021 budget and next year will be challenging if we have to operate without $40,000. Your community is made better just by having a library in it; property values increase for properties that have a local library nearby. Quality of life and education levels rise with a library near you; the library has enriching learning opportunities for all ages. In a time where being digital is practically a necessity, the library lets you take the internet with you by lending out Chromebooks and mobile Wi-FI hotspots.
Again, you can actually make a direct difference RIGHT NOW and TODAY! I always say that nothing is more expensive than free. Your local library is open and free to all, and support from library champions like you and our state government ensure that continues to happen. It is because you value libraries and that is why we have a great library here. Let our state government pass a budget that includes full funding for public libraries.
Here is one book I am reading and one book you need to keep an eye out for.
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My current read: Crisis in the Red Zone: The Story of the Deadliest Ebola Outbreak in History, and of the Viruses to Come by Richard Preston
This is a re-read and more timely than ever. -
I purchased earlier today a LARGE order of new books. Too large to write out, so I took a screenshot of my order. I was on vacation last week so I am a week behind, but our book vendor ships fast.
You can view the titles in a PDF by clicking here. The new books show as "on order," so you can click Place Hold and be on the list to get it once its ready. Look those books up and more by browsing our online card catalog.
Is your library card current? If not, click here to see. It's one of the most powerful things you can have.
Never miss a new release: view our lists of all new books and our stand-out recommendations made by library staff. Click here
Your support ensures that a library card is incredibly valuable and remains free.
We're at it again!
October Grab-N-Go Book Sale: that's right, we are doing it again!!
Friday October 30th from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
Details below ⤵️
This time you have a few types of pre-assorted bags to choose from:
1️⃣ Children's picture books
2️⃣ Young adult / teen books
3️⃣ Adult hardback fiction books
4️⃣ A bag entirely of Danielle Steel.
🚨 NOTE: due to the limited supply, we can't hold bags aside for pickup later. First come first serve #earlybirdgetstheworm
🗓 Date: Friday, October 30th from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
📍 Location: In the lower-level parking lot behind the library, by the Historical Society Archives. Signs will be posted.
🤑 Price: $3 for a pre-assorted bag of books. Tell us which you prefer from the list above and we will bring you a bag or two (or three) of books right to your car.
👍🏻 Buy for a friend who can’t get out to the library. Buy for yourself and try something new or something you already like to read. Take a chance! Be surprised! You might find a new genre or author you like! 👀
📣 Proceeds go towards the library purchasing Chromebooks and computer keyboard covers. This allows us to help you have a Chromebook now when they are needed more than ever. The keyboard covers will help allow us to safely offer public computer use.
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Your library misses you. We wish you and your family health and wellbeing during these (and all) times.
Vince
P.S.- You don't need to make an account or jump through any hoops to be a library champion. I wouldn't say this if it wasn't true. You can make this happen in less than a minute. Just click here.