Posts Tagged ‘library support’

We hate to brag, but…

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

…it’s a fact.  The new Municipal Library building has been included in the American Libraries Magazine 2012 Design Showcase.  An example of “Small Projects, Big Impact”, the library is the only new building highlighted in this section of the article.

Here are some shots that didn’t  make it into the  magazine.

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The UD Libraries in 2010

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

As you, our patrons,  know, 2009 saw a long and only partially successful campaign to maintain level funding by the state for public libraries.  As we head into 2010, the impact of those cuts are beginning to be known.  You have probably seen the newspaper articles about the Delaware County libraries that are cutting the hours they are open.  Continued access to the databases offered by libraries have also been under review, as have interlibrary loans.  So, what’s happening with the Upper Darby Libraries in this new, less-funded world?

First, the good news.  There are no plans to cut the hours that any of the Upper Darby Libraries are open.  As long as financially feasible to do so, we will continue to be open for over 70 hours a week at the Sellers/Main Branch, and an average of 60 hours weekly at the Municipal and Primos branches.   More good news – the popular tutor.dom Live Homework Help service and the Reference USA business directory, separately funded by the Delaware County Council, will also be continued.  Live Homework Help has even found a way to expand their services and hours.   More good news? – The Delaware County Library System will continue its support of the InterLibrary Loan system, allowing patrons to borrow from libraries across the state and the country.

How did we do this?  With lots of help.  As mentioned above, the Delaware County Library System and County Council have decided to support three important and expensive services that are offered to patrons through their local library – in this case, the Upper Darby Libraries.  These are services that we could not offer without this financial support.  But the most important source of help has been you – through the township of Upper Darby.

The 2010 township budget provides continued support for the libraries.  While it did not make up for the almost $100,000 lost in state aid (and no one expected it to do so!), the township funding will be enough to let us stay open and available.

So where will the difference be made up?  In three main areas – staffing, materials, property maintenance.  Staff salaries will remain static, and only vacant positions will be filled – no increases in staffing.  The number of new books, movies, cd’s and so forth will be reduced.  We’ll still get as many of  those new titles you want as we can - but probably only one or two copies.  This will mean longer waits for the good stuff.  Property maintenance  – we’ll be looking to the Friends of the Library, grants, and other alternate funding sources for anything bigger than basic maintenance.  The same will be true for new and old programming alike.

So what’s left to figure out?  Still up in the air are the state-funded databases, known as the POWER Library.  The latest word from the State is that these subscriptions are being re-bid and downsized.  When we know what that means, we’ll pass it along to you.

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Shopping with Purpose

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Actually – shop for the UD Libraries.  Saturday, December 5, is the Barnes and Noble Bookfair in support of the Children’s programs of the Upper Darb Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Libraries.  You can get a copy of the voucher either by clicking here or picking one up at any Upper Darby Library.  Use it this Saturday at the Lawrence Park Barnes and Noble and the Library will receive a percentage of all purchases.  And as a special attraction for the youngest among us, the mouse from Laura Numeroff’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will make a special appearance at 10:30 in the morning.  Come visit the library staff, see the mouse, get some shopping done and support your library – all at one time!

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Budget News

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

First, from all the staff at the Upper Darby Libraries, a tremendous THANK YOU to all our supporters who have written, emailed or called to voice their opinions about the proposed budget cuts.  It is so gratifying to know that  we have your support and confidence.

While a budget has been approved, the details have not yet been published, and may not be known for several days yet.    The press reports say that Gov. Rendell was pleased with the education package, but how that will work down to library funding is still unknown.  You can be sure that everyone at the libraries are following this very closely. 

Once again, no matter how this works out in the end, thank you for your support.

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Budget Struggle Goes On

Monday, September 14th, 2009

It’s doubtful that anyone could have predicted that the state of Pennsylvania would still be without a budget in mid-September.  The potential compromise announced over the weekend does not seem to be the end of the struggle either.  PaLA, the Pennsyvania Library Association which is monitoring the situation for libraries statewide, believes that the situation in Harrisburg is still very, very uncertain.

So please, keep calling, writing, or emailing your legislator.  Thank him for his efforts, and ask him to continue to support level funding for libraries.  Join library supporters across the township and the state to keep libraries open and functioning.  Click here for more information on the situation and for names and addressess.

Thank you.

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And the battle rages on…

Monday, July 6th, 2009

The budget battle, that is.  Anyone following the news even a little bit knows that Pennsylvania still has no budget, even though one should have been passed by June 30th.  Gov. Rendell has now proposed an increase to the state income tax to help fund the expected deficit.  Support and opposition breaks almost perfectly  along party lines.

Caught in the middle of this are state employees and any group or agency that receives any amount of state funding.  For some of these groups, including state workers, the effect is immediate.  (You try telling the grocery store you’ll pay them with a state IOU!)  For others, like many libraries, the effect won’t be felt until 2010.

But the effects will be felt.  Already, several databases are scheduled to be dropped from the stae funded POWER Library offerings.  To my mind, the most valuable of these is the Consumer Health Complete database.  This resource provides a wide range of materials on nearly any health conidtion or subject you can think of – and in terms laypeople can understand.

This is the first loss – many more could come.  And even a budget settlement in Harrisburg doesn’t guarantee library funding.  Please help us continue to serve our patrons – you – by contacting your state representatives and Gov. Rendell and urge them to provide level funding – not increased funding – just level funding for libraries. 

Just in case you’re wondering if others feel the same way, check out what the some of teen supporters did last week to make the case for library funding.

 

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