IN Murrysville Spring 2014 | Page 56

MURRYSVILLE COMMUNITY LIBRARY Jamie Falo – Director urr ysville MU N I CI PAL IT Y O F M U RRYSVI L L E NE WS T he hammers have stopped pounding and the dust has cleared! The newly renovated Murrysville Community Library’s Children’s Room is now open for business, offering brightly colored welcoming space, the latest advanced technology, comfortable seating, and new shelving full of nearly 20,000 items to borrow. The year 2013 was an incredibly exciting year for the Murrysville Community Library! With a very successful Capital Campaign, the Murrysville Community Library Foundation grossed nearly $500,000 from our generous donors. Thank you to all who have contributed to this fund. Our goal to support and ensure the tradition of developing the future ambitions of Murrysville’s boys and girls through capital and technological improvements and endowment enhancement is a reality because of your generosity. In addition to technological improvements for our youth, we have replaced all technology throughout the Library for adult patrons and staff. We have grown from an initial in-house collection of 660 books in 1922 to over 62,000 items in 2013. Now, with the Westmoreland Library Network (WLNTM) card, you can access over 830,000 items countywide, 24/7! You are now able to easily and quickly request materials from any of the 24 WLN member libraries. You have access to the whole catalog from home, office, or on the go. “The Murrysville Community Library connects people with ideas and information, promotes lifelong learning, and helps build community.” In support of our mission statement, the Library is open 58.5 hours each week, including three evenings and Saturdays. In 2013, nearly 90,000 visits were made to the Library, approximately 10,000 individuals attended library programs, and patrons borrowed more than 141,000 books, e-books, magazines, audio books, music CDs, videos, and DVDs. In addition to print and electronic materials, the Library hosts many programs for patrons of all ages. For our youngest members, our Youth Services Coordinator, Mrs. Carol Siefken, manages several programs during the school year, including Toddler Time Stories and Preschool Storytime. Each summer, Mrs. Siefken organizes the Library’s popular Summer Reading Club. In 2013, the Library’s theme for Summer Reading Club was “Dig Into Reading.” Exactly 886 young readers participated in the club, and over 4,000 people enjoyed the more than 50 programs offered, all of which supported family literacy efforts. Other popular Library programs 54 Murrysville include Dog Reading Pals, Music Together, Pokémon League, Raising Readers parent Literacy Club, Socrates Café, Tuesday Evening Adult Book Discussion Group, Pushing the Limits, StoryWorks, Afternoon Tea Group, Library Knitters and Community Connections @ Your Library, featuring hometown speakers.   If you have not been to your Library lately, stop in to see the new space and while you are here enjoy endless possibilities at your Library: • Read with your children or have them read to you. • Surf the Internet on one of our new computers. • Connect to our free Wi-Fi. • Borrow a newly released DVD or documentary. • Receive one-on-one training on how to use your e-reader. • Enjoy one of our 107 unique magazine titles. The Library receives its funding from many different sou