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THE FUTURE
Note: this is the final article of a series of
three which were written in honor of the 85th birthday of the
Murrysville Community Library (MCL). This article is dedicated to the
future direction of the MCL.
The seven trustees that govern the MCL are
appointed by the Murrysville Municipal Council. The application process
for the Library Board begins in the fall of each year and is initiated
by filling out the Application for Appointment to Boards and Commissions
form that can be obtained from the municipality website:
http://www.murrysville.com/online_doc_forms.html. Appointments
begin on January 1st. All members of the community are
eligible to apply for a trustee position, and those of you with a love
of reading and libraries are encouraged to consider making this
commitment to the community.
MCL Board meetings are held every 3rd
Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Library, and the public is welcome to
attend. However, public correspondence is also read and discussed at
this meeting, so if you can’t attend in person, the board invites you to
send your comments to the Board c/o of the MCL. Alternatively, you can
contact any of the Board members, which for the year 2007 include Brien
Palmer, Chuck Greenberg, Laura Meaden, Sharlene Emerson, Ellen Spain,
Lois Albrecht, and Becky Wyss.
The library is supported by funding from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Municipality of Murrysville,
Westmoreland County, United Way, and generous patrons of our community.
Our annual budget for 2007 is $406,000. Of this total, 85% of the
budget comes from State, County and Local government sources with the
Municipality of Murrysville providing the biggest share of the
government support. Our 2007 budget plan expects to devote 13.5% of the
budget for the purchase of library materials including books,
periodicals, and A-V materials. An area where the MCL trustees would
like to see future growth is in the development of programs that serve
and involve the community but where we are currently only able to
dedicate less than 2% of the total budget.
Because much of the MCL budget is funded from
government sources, any cuts in government funding can have devastating
effects on our ability to maintain services. Such cuts were seen in
State funding in the years 2003-2004. These cuts resulted in the
elimination of a staff position and reduction in service hours at the
MCL. It has only been recently, in the fall of 2006, that the MCL has
been able to reinstate its pre-cut service hours.
To ensure a consistent level of service and promote
self-sufficiency, we have a vision of adding to our government funding
through private donations. The Library Foundation is a non-profit,
fundraising supporter of the MCL; any donations to the Foundation are
tax-deductible. Donations to the Foundation are primarily invested in
an endowment but can be earmarked for current library programs. The
endowment is being nurtured to meet the future needs of the MCL.
Alternatively, tax-deductible donations can be made directly to the MCL
as monetary gifts or for use in the purchase of memorial books or other
lending materials.
The close relationship between the MCL and the
Municipality goes beyond financial support. The MCL enjoys a long term
lease of space in the Municipal Building. Our lease expires in 2013,
but we have the ability to renew this lease for two additional five year
periods. To understand the library’s space requirements, the library
board has recently formed a space planning committee, which is
soliciting members of the community to participate. The objective of
this committee is to understand how to best utilize our current space
and to define our needs as the community grows. To join the space
planning committee, please leave word of your interest for Sharlene
Emerson c/o the library.
The MCL is one of twenty-five public libraries in
the Westmoreland County Federated Library
System (WCFLS). All these member libraries benefit from the
coordination of resources and services, shared access to individual
collections, sharing of expertise, promotion of library staff
development, and funding from the County Commissioners office for
special projects. The WCFLS promotes equity of access to library
services to patrons in the county regardless of the size of their
community libraries. Since October 2005, MCL has been serving as
countywide headquarters for the WCFLS, and Denise Sticha, Library
Director in Murrysville, is also System Administrator for the WCFLS.
Our MCL, as one of the largest of the small WCFLS community libraries,
is also an important county leader.
The 25 public libraries of Westmoreland County
first joined together in 1993. The original purpose in establishing the
WCFLS was to obtain funding for public library services from county
government and to receive additional state support as a federated
system. The WCFLS now serves a population of approximately 367,000
residents (based on a 2004 Census update). There are approximately
170,000 registered borrowers in all of the 25 member libraries and their
branches. Approximately 46 percent of all county residents use public
library services for access to more than one million items and 247
patron computer stations. In particular, WCFLS patrons benefit greatly
from the sharing of collections using an electronic catalog service
called Netpac. Netpac, however, is older technology, which serves
patrons by facilitating library-to-library requests. The WCFLS is
currently in the process of upgrading from Netpac to a modern,
countywide integrated network (i.e. the Westmoreland Information
Network, or WIN) which will be served by a single library card and will
give patrons 24/7 access to collections.
It is a very exciting time for the Murrysville
Community Library, and we invite all our old friends, and friends-to-be,
to enjoy the services of the library. If you are interested in
supporting the library and building literacy in the community, there are
many opportunities for you to help. For example, there are several
volunteering opportunities either at the library, as a Trustee, or
serving on the Space Planning committee. As we strive to become more
self-sufficient, financial donations to the Foundation or to the MCL are
always welcome. Also, since a large part of our current budget is from
government sources, consider contacting your state representatives, the
Governor, County Commissioners, and Murrysville council members to let
them know that you value the services of the Murrysville Community
Library and to urge them to continue to fund public libraries. For more
information on any MCL activities, please call the library
(724-327-1102) or visit our website (www.murrysvillelibrary.org).
Submitted by Becky Wyss and Chuck Greenberg
THE PRESENT
Note: this is the second of a series of articles
celebrating the 85th birthday of the Murrysville Community
Library. This article focuses on the activities and services of the
present day library.
Currently, there are over 15,000 registered library
card holders, who enjoy the collection and services of the Murrysville
Community Library, a free, lending, public library. If you live within
the Franklin Regional School District, Export, or Washington Township,
you too can enjoy the use of the Murrysville Community Library (MCL).
To apply for a library card, just bring in proof of your name and
address (children under 17 must have a parent or guardian signature).
If you have lost your library card, the MCL staff will be happy to help
you replace it; just inquire at the circulation desk.
The present day library is managed by a board of
seven trustees who are appointed by the Murrysville Municipal Council.
Board members serve three years. Board meetings occur every 3rd
Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Library, and the public is welcome to
attend. Trustees are primarily responsible for strategic planning and
financial oversight.
Several years ago the library board carried out a
strategic assessment of the library and identified the MCL staff as one
of the library’s core areas of strength. The MCL enjoys the services of
a full time library director and 10 additional paid staff members. The
library experience of our staff averages more than 15 years.
Besides the paid staff, our library enjoys the
services of an army of volunteers. In 2006, the MCL had over 80
volunteers logging in over 250 hours of work each month. The
contributions of our volunteers are an integral and indispensable
component in the day-to-day operation of the library.
The Murrysville Community Library’s mission
statement is:
"MCL serves the
community's evolving information needs. We connect people with ideas
and information, promote lifelong learning, and help build community."
In support of the MCL’s mission, the library is
open every day, a total of 66 hours each week. In 2006, our patrons
made over 100,000 visits to the library, and more access the library
through the library’s internet site. (www.murrysvillelibrary.org)
The MCL houses a total collection of over 64,000
printed items, which breaks down into approximately 30,000 adult books,
nearly 1000 large print books, 20,000 juvenile books, and 2400
references. The MCL also subscribes to a variety of newspapers and
magazines.
In addition to the print collection, the library
offers a collection of books-on-tape, audio CDs, DVD and VHS movies.
In 2006, the number of in-house books, videos, and
CDs borrowed was over 108,000! Of this total, 56% of the borrowed
materials were from the adult collection and 44% were from the juvenile
collection. In addition, there were another 2000 materials acquired by
MCL through a national interlibrary loan service that is available to
all patrons. Interlibrary loans can be requested at the circulation
desk, by phone, or using an online form at the MCL’s website.
It is in the MCL’s mission statement to “help build
community”, and to do that the library is a gathering place for a
variety of activities including tutoring, the Socrate’s Café®,
Storyworks, a storytelling group, and the Family Chess club.
Likewise, the entire space occupied by the MCL has
wireless internet access, so bring your computer or use one of our 10
desktop computers. In 2006, more than 4500 internet hours were logged
on the MCL computers. To aid computer literacy, a wireless computer lab
with 10 computers allows the library to offer classes on topics such as
Computer Basics and Windows XP, Introduction to the Internet, and Using
Email.
Library staff is also available to proctor any
tests required by online classes.
POWERLibrary is an online resource provided by
Commonwealth Libraries and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It
is accessible through the Murrysville Community Library website. A
library cardholder can access dozens of resources 24/7. Use EBSCOhost
to read Consumer Reports reviews and other magazine articles. The Auto
Repair Center can show you how to replace the worn brake pads on your
car. NetLibrary offers over 12,000 books to be read online. Discover a
new author at NoveList, and discover a great place for children to learn
at Searchasaurus and SIRS Discoverer. There is something for everyone
in Power Library.
For children’s programming, the MCL is fortunate to
have Carol Siefken, our Coordinator of Youth Services. She inspires the
children of the community to become lifelong readers. She does this by
regular visits to area preschools and elementary schools, often dressed
as a beloved children’s book character. Who has seen the Cat in the Hat
or the Magic School Bus’s Mrs. Frizzle visiting our schools? Throughout
the year, the library hosts story time for toddlers and preschoolers and
parent-child book discussion groups. But the children’s library really
shines for the Summer Reading program when Siefken and artist Lynn Skoff
create a world using themes and materials provided by a consortium of
states. The Summer Reading program has incentives to encourage visiting
the library (with finding the book hidden on the shelf being a favorite)
and incentives for both younger read-to-me children and older
independent readers. Readers who meet the Summer Reading goals get an
invitation to the program-end celebration. Putting on the summer program
requires year-round planning as Seifken garners much of the support for
the program from local businesses, non-profits and the elementary
schools. Over the years the Summer Reading program has reinforced the
reading habits of thousands of children.
When the library can’t gather its patrons within
the library walls, we take the library to our patrons. The library has
been regularly distributing materials to homebound patrons, residents of
Redstone Highlands, and to the youth participating in the Summer Parks
Program.
Exciting things are happening at the MCL! Please
come check us out, and while you’re here, check out something from our
collection. For more information on any MCL activities, please call the
library (724-327-1102) or visit our website (www.murrysvillelibrary.org).
Submitted by Becky Wyss
Did you know that the Murrysville Community Library
(MCL) will celebrate its 85th birthday this year? On March
11, 2007, we celebrate the establishment of the MCL through the
dedicated efforts of 44 women in the Murrysville Women's Club. In honor
of this occasion the Library Trustees and the MCL Library Director,
Denise Sticha, want to share our history and vision for the future with
our patrons. To this end, we have written a series of articles which
will appear in this and coming issues of the Penn Franklin. The first
article of that series, which follows, is a look back at the history of
the library. The second and third articles will focus on the present
day library and our vision for the future.
THE PAST
In 1920, 44 women formed the Murrysville Women's
Club and agreed to make the creation of a library their first objective.
A March 15, 1921 letter states “The Women’s Club of Murrysville want to
supply a library that will meet the varied needs of the present
generation, - a library that will help boys and girls to go to world
service better able to do ‘their bit’.”
These dedicated women produced "Ye Olde Folk's
Concert" and "The Three Chauffeurs" as fundraisers for the library.
Contributions to the library also came from community donations of
money and books, as well as remnants of the Laird Institute, which had
flourished as a school for more than 40 years in the Murrysville
Presbyterian Church on North Hills Road. Fifteen months later on March
11, 1922, the Murrysville School and Community Library opened with 660
books and five magazine subscriptions including The National
Geography Magazine. Judge Carpenter, who was a great-grandson of
the founder of Murrysville, Jeremiah Murry, formally dedicated the
library. At this time the Murrysville School and Community Library was
open daily after school for 30 minutes and on Friday evenings.
By 1924 the library was open twice each week, on
Tuesdays and Fridays. There was an average of 59 books loaned each day
with a record number of 86 books loaned in a single day. Two years
later, following a recommendation by the State Library in Harrisburg,
the library split its collection. The books obtained for the grade
school and high school were left in the Murrysville School Building.
The Community Library moved to the former Post Office in the Town
Square.
The Murrysville Women's Club continued to sponsor
the Community Library, and its records show that by May of 1935 the
Community Library had grown to house 1200 volumes. The average
circulation was 145 books per month, and the average spending on books
was $60 per year. Volunteer librarians staffed the library, which was
open ten months of the year for five hours each week.
Photographs of unnamed volunteers working at the
Murrysville Community Library circa 1941. The library would appreciate
hearing from anyone who can identify these ladies.
Another move occurred in 1954, when the volunteer
firemen's first fire hall was built at the location to the rear of the
present Ferri's market. The firemen provided a room in the fire hall
for the library's collection.
By 1958, the library had accumulated a collection
of 5000 volumes, while the population in the Murrysville area had
swelled to 7500 people. To address these growing pains, the Murrysville
Women's Club decided to build a Community Building. On October 5, 1958,
ground was broken for a new building, which would house the Community
Library and provide a place for meetings and social events. A
consortium of organizations in the Franklin Township-Murrysville-Export
area called Communities, Incorporation donated the land on which the
Community Building was erected. This consortium maintained the
recreational land that has now become the Haymaker Community Park. The
budget for the construction of the 60 foot x 60 foot concrete block
Community Building was $30718.92 of which only $11,600 was financed.
The Women's Club assumed the responsibility for the mortgage. The new
Community Building was built in seven months and dedicated on April 26,
1959.
Photo from the Murrysville Women’s Club
scrapbook showing E. F. Harchelroad, President of Communities Inc. and
Mrs. F. A. Yeoman, Women’s Club Building Committee Chairman at the
Community Building groundbreaking ceremony.
Women’s Club members Mrs. J. L. Cotter and Mrs.
Henry Turer cleaning the Community Building one week from the dedication
ceremony. Photo from the Murrysville Women’s Club scrapbook.
Mrs. A. G. Mayer and Mrs. J. H. Malkames, of the
Murrysville Womens Club, paint the Community Building, one week prior to
the dedication ceremony. Photo from the Murrysville Women’s Club
scrapbook.
The Murrysville Women’s Club continued to nurture
the library’s growth through two expansions of the Community Building
and a reallocation of the entire building for the library’s use in the
early 1980’s. For decades, dedicated volunteers had filled all the
staffing needs of the library. This changed in 1969 when the first paid
librarian was hired. Other changes to the library during this time
period include the formation of a Board of Trustees in 1969 to oversee
the library.
By 1990, the population of Murrysville had grown to
17,241 people, and plans were underway to build a new Municipal Building
where the Murrysville Council offered the library 10,000 square feet of
space. So in 1993 the Murrysville Library moved to our present location
in the Municipal Building.
The MCL celebrates its 85th birthday
with gratitude to the foresight of 44 women and the subsequent hard work
and stewardship of the Women’s Club of Murrysville, who have exceeded
their goals and supplied a library for multiple generations of
Murrysville residents.
More photographs, newspaper clippings, and other
historical documents relating to the library that have been preserved in
the Women’s Club of Murrysville scrapbooks can be found in the archives
at:
http://www.murrysvilleonline.com/MurrysvilleLibraryHistory.htm
The next installment of this series will focus on
the present day Murrysville Community Library.
Submitted by Becky Wyss
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