Friday, December 18, 2009
Special Podcast on Library Funding Available
Listen to an interview with John Venditta, Executive Director of the Chester County Library System, and John Kelley, Executive Director of the Phoenixville Public Library. Click here!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pennsylvania Budget Forces Phoenixville Library Cutbacks
The Phoenixville Public Library Board of Trustees approved operating budget cuts for 2010 at its November Board meeting. “These cuts were extremely difficult,” said Board President Susan Meadows, “but the library was forced to address an $80,000 shortfall.” With significant cuts to: the state library subsidy, the educational improvement tax credit program, Access PA [state reimbursement for serving customers outside the library’s service area] and county funding, all established in late October, and an increase in health insurance costs, the library had no choice but to make deeper cuts in its operating budget for the current fiscal year by cutting staff and hours of operation.
After a review of current programs and services it became necessary to vote for a solution that allowed the library to balance its budget while still maintaining quality access to information for the Phoenixville community. One full-time and two part-time staff positions will be eliminated. The collection budget will be cut, part-time hours of some of the staff will be reduced, and the library will be closed on Wednesdays [effective November 25]. “Every day is busy at the library, but statistically Wednesday is our slowest,” said Executive Director John Kelley. This closure will also affect children’s programs. The library’s new hours will be Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9AM-9PM, Friday & Saturday 9AM – 5PM.
“The funding of libraries is very complex,” said Kelley, “because the library draws from many different sources to make its budget.” Kelley continued by saying that public libraries are primarily funded by a local source and then they supplement this amount with state, county and private funds. Kelley continued, “We are fortunate to have the Phoenixville Area School District as our local government funding source. They approved a small funding increase for the library for the current fiscal year. This was commendable for them as educational leaders in our community, and very helpful for the library’s programs and services. Unfortunately the state cuts were too steep to change the outcome for this year,”
Library circulation is up almost 14% over the past 2 years with circulation approaching 300,000 items annually. Phoenixville is the third busiest public library in Chester County. “We average some 130 holds a day on our materials, and people are standing in line to use our computers. For the month of October, there were 65 educational children’s programs, including outreach, with nearly 2,500 people in attendance. The adult programs drew over 250 people,” said Kelley.
The Board is very concerned over the impact that this funding cut will have on the Phoenixville community, and will continue to seek new revenue streams for the operation of the library, while attempting to strengthen existing ones. “While our hours of operation will be less, our quality of service and educational programming will continue to be strong,” Kelley emphatically stated. He continued, “It is my hope that if our funding situation improves we can restore some, if not all of these hours. In the interim, inter-library loan borrowing and sharing of some resources among the County-wide System member libraries will increase as we, and other county libraries, will be buying fewer materials.”
Future state, county and local government funding sources for the Phoenixville Public Library and all Chester County libraries will depend significantly on the public’s voice for support through letters, phone calls, e-mails and personal visits to our state, county and locally elected officials starting now, for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Click here for the list of Phoenixville Area School District Board members. Click here for the Chester County Commissioners. Click here to find your State legislators.
After a review of current programs and services it became necessary to vote for a solution that allowed the library to balance its budget while still maintaining quality access to information for the Phoenixville community. One full-time and two part-time staff positions will be eliminated. The collection budget will be cut, part-time hours of some of the staff will be reduced, and the library will be closed on Wednesdays [effective November 25]. “Every day is busy at the library, but statistically Wednesday is our slowest,” said Executive Director John Kelley. This closure will also affect children’s programs. The library’s new hours will be Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9AM-9PM, Friday & Saturday 9AM – 5PM.
“The funding of libraries is very complex,” said Kelley, “because the library draws from many different sources to make its budget.” Kelley continued by saying that public libraries are primarily funded by a local source and then they supplement this amount with state, county and private funds. Kelley continued, “We are fortunate to have the Phoenixville Area School District as our local government funding source. They approved a small funding increase for the library for the current fiscal year. This was commendable for them as educational leaders in our community, and very helpful for the library’s programs and services. Unfortunately the state cuts were too steep to change the outcome for this year,”
Library circulation is up almost 14% over the past 2 years with circulation approaching 300,000 items annually. Phoenixville is the third busiest public library in Chester County. “We average some 130 holds a day on our materials, and people are standing in line to use our computers. For the month of October, there were 65 educational children’s programs, including outreach, with nearly 2,500 people in attendance. The adult programs drew over 250 people,” said Kelley.
The Board is very concerned over the impact that this funding cut will have on the Phoenixville community, and will continue to seek new revenue streams for the operation of the library, while attempting to strengthen existing ones. “While our hours of operation will be less, our quality of service and educational programming will continue to be strong,” Kelley emphatically stated. He continued, “It is my hope that if our funding situation improves we can restore some, if not all of these hours. In the interim, inter-library loan borrowing and sharing of some resources among the County-wide System member libraries will increase as we, and other county libraries, will be buying fewer materials.”
Future state, county and local government funding sources for the Phoenixville Public Library and all Chester County libraries will depend significantly on the public’s voice for support through letters, phone calls, e-mails and personal visits to our state, county and locally elected officials starting now, for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Click here for the list of Phoenixville Area School District Board members. Click here for the Chester County Commissioners. Click here to find your State legislators.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
New "Patron Picks" Blog Launched
We've just launched our new "Patron Picks" blog at pplpatronpicks.blogspot.com. Check it out! Patrons may comment on the 'picks', which are linked to the Chester County Library System catalog. If you've read a good book lately, e-mail title and author info to mpinto@ccls.org, and we'll post your 'pick' on the blog.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Library to Be Closed Sundays Beginning October 4
Due to expected budget cuts, the Library will not be open on Sundays, until further notice. The Board and staff of the Library regret any inconvenience this may cause.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Adult Summer Reading Program a Success!
Our Adult Summer Reading Program ended on August 14 with 1,885 books read by 193 participants. While we did not reach the goal of 2,000 books read, the Friends of the Library has decided to give us what we need to purchase the "Milk Menagerie" gift from Heifer International. Thank you, Friends, and thank you to all of our participants this summer.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Fall Speakers & Events Series Lineup Announced
Our Fall Speakers & Events Series for adults is pretty much set. Highlights include a talk on Pennsylvania Dutch Covered Bridges on September 24, a recreation of old-time radio broadcasts "This Was Radio" on October 22, a bicentennial-year talk on Edgar Allan Poe on October 26, an astronomy presentation by a "celestial evangelist" on October 29, and a lecture on the life and works of artist Georgia O'Keeffe on November 16. For more information on these and other upcoming events, check out the Events page on our website.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Podcasts Debut on Library Website
Did you miss our June 29th "Author Night" with Nancy Loane about the women of the Valley Forge Encampment? Now you can listen to the Podcast of her talk on our website. Just scroll to the bottom of the page. Podcasts of recent speakers will be a regular feature on our Adult Library Events page. Thank you to the Friends of the Phoenixville Public Library for enabling us to purchase our digital recorder!
Monday, June 29, 2009
New Electric Outlets for Laptops Installed in Carnegie Room
Got a laptop? Need to plug in your power cord? Now you won't have to hunt all over the Adult Library for an electric outlet. New electric outlets, accommodating up to two power cables, have been installed beneath nearly all the tables in the Carnegie Room.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
SENATE BILL 850 –WILL CLOSE PUBLIC LIBRARY DOORS
The Pennsylvania State Budget, which is being debated in both the State House and Senate right now, will significantly impact our library next year. Now is the time to urge add your voice to support level funding for library services next year. Under S.B. 850 library programs are hit hard. The Public Library Subsidy would be cut 50% to $37 million. The Library Access line (POWER Library, statewide borrowing, interlibrary delivery) would cease operations as this year’s $7 million appropriation would drop to zero. The Electronic Library Catalog (Ask Here PA, Access PA database) would have only $1.7 million next year compared to this year’s total of $3.7 million. Funding for the State Library (50% cut to $2.4 million) and Library Services for the Visually Impaired and Disabled (2% cut to $2.9 million) are the same in both the Governor‘s proposal and the Senate Republican bill.
Cuts of this magnitude would be devastating, of course. And in a budget that relies on cuts alone, many, many programs are hit hard. The Department of Community and Economic Development would be cut by 52% under S.B. 850. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would lose 17%. State spending in the Department of Education would drop by more than a half billion dollars (over and above the library cuts.) The Health Department would shrink by 10%; Labor and Industry by 20%; and Public Welfare by $300 million. Even expenditures in the State Senate and State House are targeted for 10% reductions.
It’s easy to get lost in a blizzard of numbers at a time like this. But here’s what you need to know:
1. Demand for library services is up dramatically during this recession. Libraries all across Pennsylvania are busier than ever before serving people looking for work, families on tight budgets, and retirees grappling with shrinking savings. Budget cuts will reduce library services for the very people who need libraries the most.
2. Governor Rendell’s proposed budget reducing library funding will cost Pennsylvania nearly a million dollars in lost federal money. Likewise, cuts to library services under S.B. 850 would cost Pennsylvania many more millions of dollars in lost federal funds. (PaLA will post a specific projection on the website as soon as they are available have it.)
No better time than right now to contact every State Senator, State Representative, and the Governor with our message that libraries provide vital services to thousands in need of work, and that Pennsylvania should secure every last nickel of federal funding and not leave millions of federal library dollars on the table. You need to write a letter [in long hand] or phone in your support for public libraries. The alternative is a significant loss of programs, loss of services and loss of hours.
Here is a link to the Pennsylvania Library Association’s Website with more information www.palibraries.org. To find your legislator: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm
As always, I am grateful for your passion and your persistence on behalf of our public libraries.
John Kelley
Executive Director
Phoenixville Public Library
183 Second Avenue
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: 610-933-3013 x23
E-mail: jkelley@ccls.org
Cuts of this magnitude would be devastating, of course. And in a budget that relies on cuts alone, many, many programs are hit hard. The Department of Community and Economic Development would be cut by 52% under S.B. 850. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would lose 17%. State spending in the Department of Education would drop by more than a half billion dollars (over and above the library cuts.) The Health Department would shrink by 10%; Labor and Industry by 20%; and Public Welfare by $300 million. Even expenditures in the State Senate and State House are targeted for 10% reductions.
It’s easy to get lost in a blizzard of numbers at a time like this. But here’s what you need to know:
1. Demand for library services is up dramatically during this recession. Libraries all across Pennsylvania are busier than ever before serving people looking for work, families on tight budgets, and retirees grappling with shrinking savings. Budget cuts will reduce library services for the very people who need libraries the most.
2. Governor Rendell’s proposed budget reducing library funding will cost Pennsylvania nearly a million dollars in lost federal money. Likewise, cuts to library services under S.B. 850 would cost Pennsylvania many more millions of dollars in lost federal funds. (PaLA will post a specific projection on the website as soon as they are available have it.)
No better time than right now to contact every State Senator, State Representative, and the Governor with our message that libraries provide vital services to thousands in need of work, and that Pennsylvania should secure every last nickel of federal funding and not leave millions of federal library dollars on the table. You need to write a letter [in long hand] or phone in your support for public libraries. The alternative is a significant loss of programs, loss of services and loss of hours.
Here is a link to the Pennsylvania Library Association’s Website with more information www.palibraries.org. To find your legislator: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm
As always, I am grateful for your passion and your persistence on behalf of our public libraries.
John Kelley
Executive Director
Phoenixville Public Library
183 Second Avenue
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: 610-933-3013 x23
E-mail: jkelley@ccls.org
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Create a Better World at Phoenixville Library This Summer
Summer is just around the corner. Actually, Summer Reading begins on June 8 at Phoenixville Public Library. This year's programs for children, teens, and adults will be extra special, as readers will be able to make a difference in the lives of the poor in other countries. You'll have the opportunity to turn every book you read into a donation to Heifer International, a nonprofit organization working to end hunger by helping impoverished families acquire and raise farm animals. Yes, you'll still have a chance to win prizes for the books you read. But this summer, it's the giving that really counts. For more information, see our website.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Fines Amnesty & Free Media Rentals Extended through April 24
Keep those non-perishable items coming! Thank you.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fines Amnesty & Free Media Rentals During National Library Week
Phoenixville Public Library celebrates National Library Week, April 13-17. Patrons who bring in two non-perishable food items for Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS) will have their overdue fines waived or, if they have no fines, will receive one free media (DVD, video, audiobook, software) rental on the spot!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Seeking Gently Used Children's Books
Our gently used book store, Friends Books, is in need of children's books in good condition. Please bring your donations to the Library's lower level. Thank you from the Friends of the Phoenixville Library!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Adult Library Magazine Survey
The Library would like to know which of the magazines in the Adult Library you enjoy reading and if there are any we don't currently subscribe to that you'd like to see here. Survey forms are available in the magazine area, and we'll be collecting your responses through May. Thanks for your participation!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Library Expansion Project: An Open Letter to the Phoenixville Community
The Board of Directors of the Phoenixville Public Library Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Phoenixville Public Library have been working very hard on the Library’s Concept Growth Plan to better serve the information, education and recreation needs of the Phoenixville Community. Plans include a new library addition of 22,000 square feet that will increase the size of our cramped children’s library, include a new, larger story-time room, provide a brand new dedicated space for our active teenage population, increase meeting room space for our existing community programs, enlarge the computer center to address community technology needs and the information explosion, and add space to spread out the cramped collections while allowing some room for collection growth. The renovations include an elevator and accessible restrooms. The facility would also become ADA compliant.
The goal of this renovation and expansion project is to create a much stronger and more viable information and community resource center for the Phoenixville community to be utilized by present and future generations. To facilitate dialogue throughout this process the Library Foundation has held several informational meetings with the community over the last two years. Public meetings about the Concept Growth Plan have also been held with Phoenixville Borough Council, the Phoenixville Area School District Board of School Directors, the Chester County Library System Board and the Chester County Planning Commission.
The Library believes in community building and is committed to ensuring a strong relationship with the Borough, its surrounding community and the Chester County Library System. We consistently strive to fulfill our charge of providing the best possible library services to the local Phoenixville community. It is clear that we need to expand in order to do this. To accomplish this goal, the addition needs to extend out to the property line of Reeves Park between Park Alley and Main Street. There will be a Community Development Committee Meeting at Borough Hall on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 6:00 PM and a Borough Council Meeting on Tuesday April 14, 2009 at 7:00PM to discuss the vacating of a very small portion of Second Avenue to enable our Concept Growth Plan to become reality. Your supportive presence at these meetings is crucial . If you cannot attend please contact your local Councilman by phone or in writing to express your support for the Library’s plans. Working together for the Library’s future will be our legacy for the next generation. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Susan Meadows, President, Library Board
Maureen Ash, President, Library Foundation Board
John Kelley, Executive Director
The goal of this renovation and expansion project is to create a much stronger and more viable information and community resource center for the Phoenixville community to be utilized by present and future generations. To facilitate dialogue throughout this process the Library Foundation has held several informational meetings with the community over the last two years. Public meetings about the Concept Growth Plan have also been held with Phoenixville Borough Council, the Phoenixville Area School District Board of School Directors, the Chester County Library System Board and the Chester County Planning Commission.
The Library believes in community building and is committed to ensuring a strong relationship with the Borough, its surrounding community and the Chester County Library System. We consistently strive to fulfill our charge of providing the best possible library services to the local Phoenixville community. It is clear that we need to expand in order to do this. To accomplish this goal, the addition needs to extend out to the property line of Reeves Park between Park Alley and Main Street. There will be a Community Development Committee Meeting at Borough Hall on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 6:00 PM and a Borough Council Meeting on Tuesday April 14, 2009 at 7:00PM to discuss the vacating of a very small portion of Second Avenue to enable our Concept Growth Plan to become reality. Your supportive presence at these meetings is crucial . If you cannot attend please contact your local Councilman by phone or in writing to express your support for the Library’s plans. Working together for the Library’s future will be our legacy for the next generation. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Susan Meadows, President, Library Board
Maureen Ash, President, Library Foundation Board
John Kelley, Executive Director
Friday, February 13, 2009
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Forms Are In!
The 2008 Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Forms have arrived and can be found on the State tax form table at the bottom of the stairs.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Announcing Spring Speakers & Events Series for Adults
What do retirement, lyme disease, resumé writing, 'green' interior design, ancient Pompeii, and wilderness survival have in common? They are some of the intriguing topics to be explored in our free Spring Speakers & Events Series for adults, beginning in March. See our website for more details, and hope to see you here!
Tax Forms Update
We have received all expected Federal and State tax forms, which can be found on the tables at the bottom of the stairs. The binder of reproducible Federal tax forms has also arrived and is available at the Adult Circulation Desk. These may be reproduced on our photocopier, 15 cents/page.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
We Have (Some) Tax Forms
We've received a shipment of 2008 Federal and State tax forms, which are available on the ground floor of the Library. Please note that we have not received all of the forms yet or the binder of reproducible Federal forms. We'll let you know when everything arrives.
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