Skip to main content

Pennsylvania Library Association Asking For Your Help

Received this last week:
Good afternoon, library advocates.

As we head into busy season for the next state budget, the Pennsylvania Library Association asks that you be in touch with your state legislators and the Governor to urge their support for level funding for library services next year.

We recognize that it has been a difficult few years for our nation’s economy and for Pennsylvanians in need of work. No group understands this better than our libraries whose staff and volunteers have done their level best—even in the face of reduced budgets—to meet the increasing need for services, especially for people searching and applying for work or job training. Just consider, between 2006 and 2010, increased demand for library services showed:
  • Library visits, up 4%
  • Number of books and DVDs lent, up 6%
  • Attendance at library programs, up 9%
  • Computer searches in library databases, up 50%
  • Number of items shared among libraries, up 58%
  • Number of digital items opened and examined, up 72%
  • Number of reference questions answered via “Ask Here PA,” up over 400%

This year, we do not seek full restoration of funding, even though the case for restoration is strong. We recognize that the effects of recession persist in PA and that the state budget is out of balance. At the same time, having lost more than 35% of state support since just 2008, librarians and library workers (those still working and those who were laid off) have already shared fully in the fiscal pain of this recession.

Today we simply ask that the consequences of the funding losses since 2008 not be worsened by an additional 5% loss. Instead we respectfully request that library funding be maintained at 2011-12 levels so that libraries can strive yet again to meet increased demand and continue to provide the best quality services possible despite funding that has already been cut more than 35%.

Please visit http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/home/ for more information and a sample email message that you can edit and send to your state senator and state representative, and to the Governor as well. We know that we can make a big difference when we join together in a common mission and message.

We trust that better days lie ahead. We hope and expect that a time for repairing the state’s support for libraries will come, and that libraries can and will play a vital role in moving PA Forward.

Thank you for your great support for libraries and for your help in spreading the word and contacting your elected officials. Stay tuned for more information and updates in the weeks ahead.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Public meeting to discuss future of Melchiorre Park scheduled for Nov. 29th

On Thursday, November 29th, the Borough is holding a 'brainstorming session' in which plans for Melchiorre Park will be discussed with its park planning consultants. The event will be held at the High School and will begin 7pm. For those of you who do not know about Melchiorre Park (of which I am included, even though I apparently live across the street from it), it is a 23 acre park located south of High Street on the land between it and French Creek. It appears, based on the drawing on the Borough home page , to be the land that is next to Westridge Village and across the street from the new Northridge Village community. As part of the meeting, the consultants will 'provide a brief background of the project and present a pre-final master plan for the park'. Source: Phoenixville Borough Website

Relay for Life Kick Off Celebration Planned for Nov. 27th

On Tuesday, November 27th, the Relay For Life of Phoenixville will be holding a kick off celebration for the '08 event. The celebration will be held at the Phoenixville High School Cafeteria (1200 Gay St) and will begin at 6:30pm. This year's celebration will feature the following: Meet this year's Co-Chairs and see the passing of the torch Hear from this year's Honorary Survivor Luminaria Ceremony: Celebrate the lives of those who have fought bravely, but have lost their battle Musical selections by The High School's Select Choir & the Guitar Club Spanish Immersion students will read poetry in both Spanish & English Raffle Fighting March & Line Dance by the High School Marching Band Also, for those who are interested in being a part of the '08 Relay, banking & team registration tables will be open from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and again after the ceremony. This year's relay will be held on May 2 & 3, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. As in th

Local Baker Wins on Netflix Sugar Rush

Peri Anderson, owner of Brooklyn Girl Bakery , was part of a team that won the most recent episode of Sugar Rush on Netflix. I reached out to Peri to learn a little more about her bakery: I started out taking a recreational cake decorating class with my mom when I was still living in NY. I loved it and moved to PA to be with my boyfriend (now husband), where I began interning for a bakery in Chestnut Hill. Over the course of 7 years I worked my way up from intern to pastry chef until I decided to leave in 2012. I do all of my baking in our home kitchen which is licensed and insured by the Dept. of Agriculture. Initially, I wanted to focus on wedding cakes so I immediately started contacting wedding venues in the area to see if they would include me a wedding cake vendor in their packages. I currently work with over 10 venues and several caterers in the area. While wedding cakes are my main focus, I also make cakes and cookie favors for all occasions. While I don’t have a retail loca