Congratulations to Pennsylvania State Representative Carolyn Comitta, 156th Legislative District, for being named Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Elected Official of the Year!

“Representative Carolyn Comitta has been an enthusiastic library supporter, speaking passionately on behalf of the value of public libraries and the role they play in the everyday life of Pennsylvania’s residents throughout her political career,” said Kimberley Hravnik, Chair of the Pennsylvania Library Association Legislative Committee. “The libraries of Chester County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are fortunate to have a staunch ally in Representative Comitta.”

For more information, please read the announcement from the Pennsylvania Library Association: https://www.palibraries.org/blogpost/1652016/357781/Elected-Official-of-the-Year-Named–Representative-Carolyn-Comitta

Due to the COVID-19 threat, the Board of Trustees of the Chester County Library System/Chester County Library will be holding their monthly board meeting virtually. If you have always wanted to attend a meeting but haven’t had the time, this is your opportunity. Please click this link at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27 to join the Chester County Library System Board Meeting. The Chester County Library Board Meeting will immediately follow.

Currently, the 2021 Budget is funding PA Libraries at 5/12 of last year’s funding.

What are the major impacts?

• Chester County Library and the 16 member libraries of the Chester County Library System will have fewer hours open, fewer materials for the public, and fewer services.
• Loss of databases to support businesses, job seekers, language learners and students
• Loss of e-book funding which are critical to students pre-K through college
• Loss of museum passes
• Loss of the new library app, curbside pickup and program calendar software
• Computers that are leased will need to be returned, reducing the computer resources available to the public

This decrease in funding will severely and negatively impact our services and programs. More importantly, sufficient funding of libraries is imperative for keeping communities employed, educated, and engaged. The current funding is a loss of over $250,000 for the Chester County Library & Henrietta Hankin Branch Library.

Contact your representatives by:

• Picking up a letter to mail at the Reference desk OR
• Texting SIGN PPFWDN to 50409 to contact your representatives.

If you have any questions about how to contact your legislators, please contact the Chester County Library Reference Desk at 610-344-5957 or ref@ccls.org. Thank you for supporting your local library!