CLEARFIELD – Because of “significant cuts” in state funding over the last two years, the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library has been challenged to find ways to deliver its services to the community.
“We haven’t had to eliminate any of our programs. We’ve just had to change the way we deliver them to the public,” Director Paula Marshall said. However, she noted its biggest change was reducing its operation from 64 to 53 hours.
“That’s 11 hours. It’s caused staffing changes and little to no increases in salary. But we have to pay the water, heat, electric, etc. to keep the library open . . . and our programming budget was cut drastically.”
According to her, library officials evaluated its programs and altered “certain parts.” For example, the summer reading program was once six weeks long; now, it’s only a four-week program, she said.
Marshall said the library used to feature a half-dozen paid, guest presenters over the course of the summer. But with limited funding available, three may be three or four presenters, depending on the success of its negotiations with them.
Limited funds have also affected its digital library, and more specifically, it’s participation and exchange of collections with public libraries in Mifflin, Juniata, Centre and Clearfield counties through the district center.
“It spans a large geographical region, and there are a lot of different interests and unique resources offered at each,” Marshall said. She said the library currently isn’t taking part due to financial restraints in its collections budget.
“We do offer great, digital resources but have always wanted to step it up and take it to the next level. But with funding cuts at the state level, we can’t do it at this point.”
While the library down-scaled some programs, others still remained, including that for its preschool-aged learners. The library supports state early learning standards, which facilitate childhood development, she said.
She said the library will also continue its “Summer Slide” program for school children to encourage summer reading. “Children go to school, get out and then don’t read, so the learning stops. We want to encourage them to continue.”
Throughout the year, Marshall pointed out the library offers additional resources to students who are working on class assignments and projects. She said it, too, plans to encourage life-long learning in its services.
According to her, individuals are always learning and growing while developing new concepts. She used the example of someone who wants to build a deck and visits the library’s how-to collection.
“They read the book and by the end, they have built a deck. They have developed a new skill,” Marshall said. However, she’s noticed an increase in the library’s visitors in general and believes it’s due to the economic difficulties.
Although it’s not evident in checked-out books, more are “just visiting.” She posited that some have likely canceled their magazine and newspaper subscriptions and are stopping by for a more affordable read.
Marshall said the library receives state and local funding but relies heavily on the communities of both Lawrence and Bradford Townships and of Clearfield Borough, which through funding drives and donations has made the state cuts easier to absorb.
“It has to be one of the most generous communities in the state, and it has really risen to the occasion. Without its support, our library wouldn’t be open. Our community donations really put us over the top,” she said.
“The library has just been hit hard. We’re waiting for the next ball to drop and are already stretched to the limit. If faced with more (state funding) cuts in 2012, we’ll have to find ways to provide essential programs, but we’re already at our bottom line.”