At the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries (PCBL) Friends Institute on October 24, Jeanne Grimsley and Maryann Richmond presented a program on “What to Do with Book Sale Leftovers.” They presented at the Hershey-Grantville Hilton Hotel and their message was to carefully manage the book sale process before, during, and after the sale. About ninety participants from Friends groups across Pennsylvania attended the Institute and exchanged ideas for fundraising and energizing Friends groups. Jeanne and Maryann represented the Lititz Library Friends and brought back ideas to share. Additionally, the PCBL awarded the Friends of the Lititz Public Library for their newsletter, Friends Features, as Newsletter of the Year for the state of Pennsylvania.

The first issue of Friends Features newsletter appeared in May 1994, as a bi-annual, black and white publication. It became a quarterly, two-color publication in 1999, when the new library was built. In 2014, recognizing that photographs tell the library’s story best, the Friends of the Library adopted a modern, full-color, glossy format which required – for financial reasons – a return to bi-annual editions.

Friends Features has evolved since inception over twenty years ago. In 1994, the newsletter was used as a tool to build support for a new, purpose-built library building. After 1999, with the new library in full swing, Friends Features became a primary way to let supporters know about Friends of the Library initiatives and the programs and services our library could begin to offer the community. Today, Friends Features is a tool that allows the Friends of the Library and Board of Trustees to “touch” donors twice each year; the winter/spring issue recognizes our donors’ generosity and the fall issue provides highlights of how their gifts have benefited individuals, families and our community as a whole. In addition to promoting Friends of the Library events, each issue of Friends Features gives the library’s director an opportunity to speak directly to donors, sharing triumphs, voicing concerns and keeping everyone up-to-date on what’s happening at their library.

Friends Features is mailed to about 1,200 Friends of the Lititz Public Library. The current issue and archive of past issues are available online through the library’s website at www.lititzlibrary.org.

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Media Contact:
Sallie Rihn
Community Relations Coordinator
Lititz Public Library
srihn@lititzlibrary.org
626-2255

Jumpstart Read for the Record 2014 PR Page 1 of 2 Jumpstart’s 2015 Read for the Record® Campaign is happening in Lancaster County!

October, 2015 – Lancaster County libraries will participate in Jumpstart’s 2015 Read for the Record® —a national early literacy campaign by reading the same book to hundreds of children on the same day! On October 22 nd, people across the country will read the children’s book Not Norman by Kelly Bennett in support of Jumpstart’s mission to work towards the day that every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Public libraries in Lancaster County will hold their programming on October 22. Continue reading →

Donate a New Children’s Book, Receive a FREE Bouquet!

October 31 – November 7, 2015

Bring a new children’s book to any Royer’s Flowers & Gifts.
In return, you’ll receive a free bouquet (limit 3 per visit)
Collected books will be donated to your local public library!

Summer Reading Program registrations at Lancaster Public Libraries broke last year’s totals.  This year’s children’s theme, “Fizz, Boom, Read” and the teen theme, “Spark a Reaction”” have drawn record-breaking registrations for all levels of participation.  The following statistics reflect participation over the Summer Reading Program’s ten-week period:

•  24,333 youth signed up for the reading program.
•  14,304 youth completed the reading program.
•  38,009 children and parents attended 1,314 summer learning events.
•  121,290 books read by youth
•  6,808,895 minutes read by youth

Public Libraries in the county experienced a 17% increase in youth signing up in 2014 vs. 2013.   They also experienced a 25% increase in youth completing the program in 2014 vs. 2013.

Officials from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries announced that Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera and Governor Tom Wolf have appointed Glenn Miller as Deputy Secretary/Commissioner for Libraries/State Librarian. Glenn will assume his position on September 8, 2015.

As the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) for 20 years, Glenn has grown the organization in significant ways, making it a credible voice and a force in PA for libraries and the services they provide. He articulately advocates for and communicates about libraries to a myriad of audiences, and is a skillful, respected leader in the library community and in the government of PA. Glenn has a thorough understanding of the fiscal environment, as well as the complexity of library and government structures in Pennsylvania.

Glenn’s mix of experience and skills are exceptional. As Deputy Secretary / Commissioner for Libraries / State Librarian, Glenn will be able to effectively lead the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, strengthening our state’s libraries and taking them into the future; support the goals and priorities of the Pennsylvania Department of Education; and make a difference—through libraries—in the lives of Pennsylvania residents. He has a clear, compelling vision for libraries as an integral part of the education and economic infrastructure of the Commonwealth, as contributors to society and in the quality of life for all PA residents.

“I’m grateful to Governor Wolf and Secretary Rivera for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Glenn said after he was appointed. “After 20 years with PaLA, it’s a great blessing and a real joy to continue working with Pennsylvania’s libraries in what for me will be a new and exciting role. My goal is for all Pennsylvania libraries—public, school, academic, and special—to be more fully integrated into our state’s educational and economic future. To the best of my ability, I will pursue every opportunity to advance library services as educational and community assets, vital cogs in an overall strategy to improve literacy and move PA forward.”

During the five months prior to Miller’s appointment, Alice Lubrecht and Brian Dawson served as acting deputy secretaries. Lubrecht has returned to her position as director of the Bureau of State Library, and Dawson has returned to his position as director of the Bureau of Library Development.

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Media Contact
Mary Ann Heltshe-Steinhauer
mheltshe@lancasterlibraries.org
717.207.0500 x1222
Cell: 717.341.9808