Spring is on its way!

June is finally here! After a difficult winter it is good to see flowers growing and fields being plowed. School will soon be out and families may need ideas on how to keep children busy and learning during their holiday. The Meyersdale Library can help you! Here are some suggestions for activities that will keep the brain cells stimulated:

• Join this year's Summer Reading Program "Make a Splash at your Library!" Activities will be held Fridays from 10 a.m until 11:30 a.m - July 9th through August 13th. Registration forms are available at the library
• Help your children create basic scrapbooks about their summer activities. This will be a fun way to capture memories as they see them. It will also help you at the end of summer when they complain that they haven't done anything. They will have all of their fun activities right in front of them. Don't worry or fuss about creating perfect albums. (From Ezine Articles)
• Utilize the Family Fun Summer Reading List located at http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/a-summer-reading-list-702205/ . You can select books appropriate for your child's specific reading level. The library will be happy to make these books available to your family either from our own collection or through the Inter-Library Loan program.
  
• The Kids Turn Central website, http://www.kidsturncentral.com/summer/summer.html, has a lot of fun craft, snack, and activity ideas.
• Family Things To Do in Pennsylvania - http://attractions.uptake.com/pennsylvania/family.html. You don't have to go far to discover history, entertainment, and quality time together as a family. Our state is full or fun learning opportunities that can be enjoyed for free or a minimal cost.
  

Please let us know how we can help your family make this summer and enjoyable and safe one!

Death By Chocolate Deemed a Success!

Many thanks to all the wonderful cooks who contributed to this year's DEATH BY CHOCOLATE fundraiser. We had some amazingly delicious entries that were beautiful as well. Even though the event was postponed from its usual Valentines holiday date, the support from the community was wonderful. I have included a link to the Daily American newspaper article. Please take time to read all about the success of the event and those that made it happen. A special thanks to our "Friends of the Library" group. Every year these dedicated people raise money to help purchase needed equipment, support collection development, or contribute to the general operating fund of the library. In a time where we see funding diminishing at an astonishing rate, the support of our friends and community means everything! Please look forward to participating in next year's DEATH BY CHOCOLATE!.

Chocolate is in the Air!

The aroma of chocolate fills the library as a result of the many culinary creations donated by library supporters for the DEATH BY CHOCOLATE bake sale.

Bake Sale
Meyersdale Library
210 Center Street
April 9th: 10am-7pm
April 10th: 10am-5pm

This is a great chance for you to treat your family without having to turn on your oven! If chocolate is what you live for, join us at the Amity Church on April 9th at 7 p.m. for the annual DEATH BY CHOCOLATE competition and auction. Each year gifted bakers submit cookies, cakes, candy, and other delectable treats for judging. The Best of Show winner receives a lovely cookbook filled with delicious chocolate recipes.
Please come join the fun!
Henry's Cake and Candy Supplies will be providing their yummy chocolate fountain for your pleasure.
Refreshments are provided.
All auction and bake sale proceeds go towards supporting the public library.

Judging and Auction
Amity Church
315 Center Street, Meyersdale
April 9th at 7 p.m.

Many thanks go out to our Friends of the Library group for all they do to make DEATH BY CHOCOLATE such a successful fund raising event. If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Library & Book Club, please call 634-0512 for more information

Winter Woes

I think it is safe to say that the majority of us are ready for spring! Keeping our spirits up in the face of the continuous onslaught of winter storms is proving challenging. Children are home from school, roads are difficult to navigate, and it is easy to feel isolated when you can't get around. Please be aware of your neighbors, especially the elderly.

We too have had difficult decisions to make about whether or not the library will be open. The general policy of the library is that if all the schools are closed in Somerset County the library will also close. However, because the roads are often passable in town we try our best to be open. Any change to the library schedule will be posted on WJAC. The safety of the library staff is our highest priority. I apologize to anyone who has made the effort to come to the library only to find it closed. It is difficult to predict what the weather will do and sometimes I have made the decision to close early in the morning only to find out the predicted conditions do not develop. Gotta love nature!!

Apologies to anyone who baked and prepared for Death by Chocolate and found out it was postponed. Because of the weather and a lack parking options due to piles of snow, the Friends of the Library felt it necessary to postpone the event. The effort was made to get the word of the postponement out to the community but we understand that not everyone received the message. We are so sorry for this inconvenience. The Friends plan to reschedule Death By Chocolate in April after the Maple Festival. We hope all chocolate lovers will be willing to participate at that time. The funds raised by Death By Chocolate go a long way in supporting library programs at a time when funding has become tenuous. We so appreciate the support the Meyersdale Public Library receives from this community.

New Year!

Well, the Meyersdale Public Library made it through 2009 intact! We are so very grateful for the financial support of our library friends. Our 2009 fund drive was the best to date. After an extended debate the state ended up cutting public library subsidies by 21%. Any budget cut is painful, however we are grateful the vote for the originally proposed 50% cut was averted . The many letters of support to government officials from library patrons across the state had a huge impact on this decision. We understand the entire country is economically stressed and that sacrifices are being made across the board. We are grateful that our little library will be able to continue services to the public with only a few internal budget adjustments. This is possible in part because of the financial support of the Somerset County Federated Library System. While hours of operation will remain the same, there will be slight cutbacks in collection and staff expenses. Our hope is to continue to provide our community the quality service our library has become known for. How long we can do this is dependant on continued local financial support as well as backing of government officials. Let us all hope for better circumstances in 2010!

Please come in and look through the many books we have for sale!

Autumn Activities

The crisp feel of Autumn is in the air. The change in season turns our minds towards thoughts of Friday night high-school football games and the upcoming holidays. As the days become cooler and the nights become shorter we spend more time in our homes, hopefully with our friends and loved-ones. I have provided links to online information that offer ideas for fun family activities, crafts, reading lists, and recipes for home-cooked comfort food. I hope you will enjoy these resources and use them to create many wonderful fall memories with your family.

• Kaboose
• Family Fun
• Family Fun Education
• Apples 4 the Teachers
• Good Reads
• New York Times Best Seller List