Moving PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries

On Monday February 13, Pennsylvania's libraries launched PA Forward before a crowd of state legislators, business leaders, statewide association executives, state agency delegates and library supporters at the State Capitol.

Part revolution and part evolution, PA Forward is a dynamic, new movement that redefines Pennsylvania's libraries as a central hub for promoting the five literacies essential to our citizens' success:

     - Basic literacy 
     - Information literacy
     - Civic and social literacy
     - Health literacy
     - Financial literacy

Visit paforward.org to learn more about what makes your local library uniquely qualified to be your community's leader of information, technology, and learning — places that fuel educational and economic opportunity for all.

Libraries Make an Economic Difference

A new study from The University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government finds that public libraries in Philadelphia make a huge difference.

Just a few interesting nuggets show that in 2010, the library provided a value of:

• $2.2 million in career development book-reading & lending.


• $2.1 million in job-finding online activities, including workforce database usage
  and online job searching/prep.


• $1.7 million job-readiness and workforce-related programming.


• $2.9 million in business development online and database activities.


• $819,285 in business development book-reading & lending.


• $55,385 in business development programming.

Plus, homes within ¼ mile of a Library are worth, on average, $9,630 more than homes more than ¼
mile from a Library.

A 24-Year Budget Set Back

Where were you in 1986?

The Cumberland County Library System has received its projected Public Library Subsidy figures from the state.

We will be losing at least $105,881. This is actually slightly less ($175) than what we had previously thought. (Gee, I wonder how many books $175 will buy?)

CCLS’s state support in 2011 is expected to be 1,059,571.

This brings us back to state funding levels not seen since the year 2000 — 11 years ago.

Or, if you look at funding from the Statewide Library Card Reimbursement program, which reimbursed us for library use from people who live in other counties (like York, Adams, Dauphin, Franklin and Perry counties), it brings us back to 1986 funding levels — 24 years ago.

I'll bet there aren't many other state programs that have received those kinds of cuts.

And, even more ironically, all of this comes at a time when we are busier than ever with customer requests, programs and services.

Community Forum on Education

Next Thursday, May 6, 2010, I'm participating in a Community Forum on Education Issues co-sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center, the Pennsylvania PTA and Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15.

I'll be part of a panel that will be talking about key education issues and policy recommendations for our state and local policymakers. Panelists include:

• Diane Barber - PA Partnerships for Children
• Jonelle Darr - Executive Director, Cumberland Co. Library System
• Jenny Hershour - Executive Director, PA Citizens for the Arts
• Amy Morton - Executive Director, Capital Area IU
• Kris Newbern - PA PTA Legislation and Advocacy Chair
• James Testerman - President, PA State Education Association

The forum starts at 6 pm and will be held at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit in Enola. It's open to the public and you can RSVP your attendance by visiting http://www.eplc.org/communityforums.html.

Come join the conversation!