Scottdale library looks for Lincolns
SCOTTDALE – The Scottdale Public Library is getting ready to kick-off its third major new building fund drive for 2003-04 and they need the public’s help. Library board member Mary Kaufman said the “Lincolns for the Library” fund drive would officially begin on Abe Lincoln’s birthday, today.
“The fund-raising committee’s goal is to fill the borough’s dump truck, which is 131 cubic feet, with pennies to support the new library cause,” said Kaufman. “Business owners and managers who have not already received a change collection can and want one should call the library at 724-887-6140 to have one delivered.”
Kaufman said the new library building would be built on the site of the former YMCA building on Spring Street in Scottdale. The board purchased the building last year and hired a company to raze the old YMCA structure last spring.
According to Kaufman, the board’s goal is to provide the most up-to-date quality library services possible for Scottdale and East Huntingdon Township communities and for the surrounding areas of Everson Borough and Upper Tyrone Township in Fayette County.
Kaufman said library officials have partnered with the Scottdale Elementary School Parent Teacher Association to raise money for construction of the new borough library. The first penny drive, “Your Two Cents Can Make a Difference,” was kicked-off last fall and will last all year while the second penny drive celebrating the 100th day of school, showed overwhelming support for the new building.
Kaufman said 329 students donated at least 100 pennies, if not more, for the 100th day of school celebration. She additionally said that PTA officials and school administrative officials expect the third penny drive, which kicks off today and continues through April 15, to do even better since the entire town will be involved through businesses and the schools.”
Kaufman said classrooms and participating businesses will have collection cans in their facilities and for each can a classroom fills, the teacher will receive a gift certificate for a free coffee or dessert from Miss Martha’s Tea Room on Pittsburgh Street in Scottdale.
Classrooms with filled cans would also receive a chance to win one of three pizza parties.
“We choose pennies for the library project because everyone just seems to have them,” said Kaufman. “They simply seem to accumulate even in children’s rooms. Everyone I talked to about the pennies program said, ‘I have a bunch of pennies that you could use.”‘
Kaufman said it’s exciting to see the school children involved in the building of the new library.
“This is something that they will remember forever,” said Kaufman. “Since 1910, we have rented space for our library, but now we find that it is impossible to expand our programming or our reading collection any further in our landlocked space here on Pittsburgh Street.”
Kaufman said in planning for the future, the board of directors used a legacy to purchase the old YMCA building. Through grants from Scottdale Borough and state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, the board was able to tear down the old YMCA building and have the land prepared for construction in the fall of 2003.
Kaufman said a certified library consultant has prepared a needs analysis and the board has hired a local architect who has prepared a preliminary floor plan and rendition of the exterior of the new building that will increase floor space from 3,900 square feet to 9,000 square feet.
The space will provide a meeting room for the community, handicapped accessible bathrooms, larger office space, and more shelf space, storage space and work space.
A teen room is desperately needed, according to Kaufman, in addition to an expanded computer area.
“We hope to have a local history section and more room for our children’s programs and added adult programs,” said Kaufman. “We also would like to provide tutored GED classes, adult literacy classes, a teen chess club and adult book clubs.”
Kaufman said in an effort to keep up with the changing world, the Scottdale facility has grown so much over the past 10 years that they have nearly doubled their book collection from 18,000 to 30,000 volumes.
“We have also added features such as audio books, videos, large-print books, computers and inter-library loans,” said Kaufman. “We have increased our services to children, weekly children’s programs, regular Y-Tots visits, Family Fun nights, Kids Book Clubs and a Summer Reading program for older children.”
Kaufman said at the same time the library has provided senior citizens tax aid programs and brings books to the homebound at three senior living facilities in their “Have Books-Will Travel” program.
Kaufman said the board hopes to raise $400,000 by June 2006 in order to apply for a matching Keystone grant to build the new, larger library. She also said that a local couple has pledged $10,000 to the building fund if library officials can get nine others to make the same matching pledge. “We think we will be able to come up with the 10 we need to secure the $100,000 in pledges,” said Kaufman.
In the meantime, Kaufman said anyone with extra pennies is welcome to stop by the library or any Scottdale business and drop them off.