Budget for books

First Posted:

JANINE UNGVARSKY For The Times Leader
It’s not quite 9 a.m. on a Saturday, but there are already cars in the small lot behind the Wyoming Free Library. As soon as Executive Director John Roberts unlocks the doors, customers head inside to use the computers.

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wish list
• Monetary donations
• Memorial donations of books
• Used books (can’t accept text books, school books or encyclopedias)
• Gift certificates and other items to be used as reading incentives
• A new bookshelf
• Volunteers
To donate
Wyoming Free Library

Wyoming, PA 18644
Phone 570-693-1364

“With the economy as bad as it has been we have more people using our Internet access,” Roberts said. “More and more they come here to use our computers to update resumes and do online job applications.” Others use the Internet for research on one of the data bases the library subscribes to or just surf the ’net. “If you don’t have a computer at home, we are the place to be for access,” said Roberts.
The Wyoming Free Library is one of eight nonprofit organizations being featured in this year’s Giving Guide. These organizations rely on grants and donations and face reduced funds and possible cuts in services due to the trying economic times. Readers are encouraged to learn about the organizations and their needs and consider remembering the organization or organizations of their choice with a donation during this holiday season.
Roberts is optimistic that despite budget cuts, the library’s Internet service will stay. “On any given day, all 12 of our computers are pretty much in use all day,” he said, “and we’ll try to keep it that way.” He’s also confident that thanks to the fact that they operate with a tiny but efficient staff, the library’s hours won’t be cut. But new books and videos and other services like access to data bases and some activities might be in jeopardy.
“It’s primarily a materials problem,” Roberts said. “Our budget is already down for new materials.” That means readers from the library’s primary service area of Wyoming, West Wyoming and Exeter craving a new novel or the latest celebrity biography might have to look elsewhere, and the library’s very popular collection of DVDs could get stale.
Other programs might have to be held less often, like the library’s well-attended Saturday movie days. “We have the room set up in the back and we have free popcorn and soda for the kids and their families,” Roberts said. “We’ve been having them for about a year, and they are geared to the DVD that came out the week before. We always have a waiting list for the popular movies when they come out and this gives families a chance to see them together without the wait.” It’s also a way to get the family out to have some fun together without spending any money, he said.
“But with the budget cutbacks for materials, I’m not going to be able to get all the popular titles in the movies and books. I have to be very selective. Money is tight this year and will get even tighter next year,” Roberts said.
And while it might not seem catastrophic to not have the latest movie on hand or to give families a chance to get together with other families and enjoy a free movie, Roberts said losing these would also take away a key opportunity for the library.
“Events like the movie day help parents and kids understand what the library is like. Something like Saturday movie day is a real incentive to come in and learn about the library and what we offer here,” Roberts said. That brings kids back for story hour or Furry Tails, a program where young readers practice their skill reading to some four-legged listeners. “For the child who doesn’t feel confident, reading to the dog builds confidence because they just sit there and listen no matter what you say,” he said.
Roberts recalled two little girls who came to Furry Tails. “They had great difficulty reading, and reading to the dogs helped immensely,” he said. “Then they showed up for the summer reading program, excited to be there. That was the highlight of my summer.”
Encouraging children to be comfortable in the library and with reading pays off in many ways, Roberts said. “They get that first library card and continue on the path to reading and they learn to enjoy the library,” he said.
The library would love to continue the programs it has and even add more, he said. Monetary donations to help him continue to update the collection would be helpful, as would donations of used books. People can honor a loved one with a memorial donation of a book as well. Gift certificates to be used as incentives in the summer reading program would be welcome, as would a bookshelf to house the library’s collection of DVDs. “And since we work with a very small staff, we’re always looking for volunteers to help out,” Roberts noted.”
He hopes people will come forward to offer whatever help they can, if for no other reason than to show that the people in the area are behind their library. “If there’s no support for this library, our patrons might find themselves having to travel to another library in the system,” Roberts said. “We want to be able to continue to offer as many services as we can right here.”