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No More Cuts to Libraries; Speak Up Now!

From the Pennsylvania Library Association and your Haverford Township Free Library:

The deadline to pass a state budget is just days away.  The effects of the recession have created a hole in the state budget in the range of $1.2 billion.  If we are to avoid a repeat of last year’s 101-day late budget, Governor Rendell and legislators must pass a new state budget by June 30, one that fills this revenue gap either through increased taxes and fees, or more cuts to state programs—or both.

Raising taxes and fees in an election year with the recession lingering is a tall order.  This reality increases the chances that the next budget might be balanced primarily through budget cuts, a possibility that could threaten library funding once again.  No specific library funding cuts have been mentioned but library supporters need to stay informed and engaged.

Now is a key moment to speak up and urge all your friends to do likewise.  Tell Governor Rendell, your State Senator, and your State Representative this one simple message:  No More Cuts to Libraries.   Tell them that cutting libraries again is unacceptable, especially during this recession when libraries are busier and more needed than ever.  Remind them that in this year’s state budget, the four library line items already were cut this year by 3%, 21%, 51%, and 73% respectively.

Send the Governor and your legislators an email here:  http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=15111281

Join PaLA’s facebook page, “5.6 Million Pennsylvania Library Card Holders Can’t Be Wrong,” here: 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123050057708453.  Please share the link and invite your friends, too.

Here’s a chart detailing all library funding categories in the state budget: http://palibraries.org/associations/9291/files/State%20budg%20chart%20for%20website.pdf

Thank you for speaking out for libraries, and for spreading the word far and wide.  Stay tuned for more updates as events change.

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P.S. Please join the Haverford Township Free Library facebook page. Our 2010 goal is to recruit more than 1,000 regional fans. At this moment, we are nearing 300. Inform your  family, friends, and colleagues today!

Questions? Please contact Library Director Richard Thau soon! thau@haverfordlibrary.org

Stop by anytime the library is open to sign up for Summer Reading Club for kids! We have tons of free programs and fun for kids birth through entering grade 5 in the Children's Room.

Looking for the ONLINE SUMMER READING CLUB? Click here!

The Delaware County Library System and the Haverford Township Free Library have transitioned to email notifications for reminders about items approaching their due date, overdue items, and the arrival of items that you have ordered from HTFL or another library.

What are the advantages? 

• $AVING$!  Staff time, postage, paper, toner, and envelopes. 
• CONVENIENCE!  You receive an email immediately when your library materials are ready for pick up.

A constantly smiling face you’ll see behind the circulation desk belongs to Fran. She has been there for about 20 years (We do let her out for good behavior).

She enjoys working with the public and helping them find just the books they want. She loves seeing the regulars as well as meeting new people.

Her hobbies include reading mysteries, cook books, magazines and newspapers, browsing the internet, politics, and cooking, although she also loves going out to eat.

Fran has a grown daughter.