Libraries Lead is the theme for National Libraries Week 2018, which runs from April 8 to 14, and local libraries are at the forefront of efforts to adjust with the times and meet the needs of area patrons.  
Visitors to many of the area libraries — Bradford Area Public Library, Friends’ Memorial Public Library in Kane, Mount Jewett Memorial Library, S.W. Smith Memorial Library in Port Allegany and Hamlin Memorial Library in Smethport — don’t need a card to use the Wi-Fi or computers. For travelers or others who need a location to access Wi-Fi and won’t be regular visitors, this is a way to print out directions, access itineraries and other online information or have pressing questions answered without needing to pay for internet use.

“Libraries are filling a gap for people, providing internet and compute access for those who don’t have it otherwise,” said Mary Grace Collier-Kisler, director of the S.W. Smith Memorial Public Library in Port Allegany.

Meanwhile, for those who aren’t aware, anyone with a card for one of the above libraries, such as Bradford, that card works at any of the other four libraries. The libraries in the area are changing with the times, providing easier access to the materials on hand and also encouraging new uses of a long-time resource to the community. For Smethport librarian Lori Rounsville, it sums up as a repeated motto, “It isn’t your grandma’s library.”

The librarians agree that today’s focus is not an ultra quiet environment. Instead, the intent is to be community hubs and provide resources and materials that area residents can’t access elsewhere.

From the young to the old, there is something to be gained from a visit to the library. For children, there are various playsets that teach colors, foods and working with money. Early intervention counselors can meet with children at the local library, and they can utilize playsets that come from the Commonwealth Library in Harrisburg. These sets, from Lakeshore Learning, provide unique learning opportunities. Families are encouraged to visit and allow children to play as well, creating opportunities for play dates and meetings with other adults in a setting outside the home.

Local libraries like Bradford and Port Allegany offer Bridge Clubs for the older generations. They provide a meeting point for various groups, including health and wellness groups, teen and community book clubs, art and yoga classes and more. Meanwhile, there are regularly scheduled events that can appeal to families and people of all ages with common interests, such as fly tying, local author visits, trivia and other game nights.

There is no time like the present to visit the local library and investigate the ways the library can benefit individuals and families. Visitors who stop between April 9 and 14 can take advantage of the various events held as part of the 60th annual National Libraries Week.
For those who enjoy physical activity, S.W. Smith Library in Port Allegany is kicking the week off early with a 5K Run/Walk on April 7, which will benefit the building fund for the library. There is also a kids’ fun run.

For those who enjoy seeing an author in person and participating in discussion of timely topics, Author Julie Murphy will be part of a community forum on April 11 at the Harriett B. Wick Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The forum is titled, “Who Am I?”

For those who enjoy participating in giveaways or helping the community, there are various opportunities to enter giveaways at the various libraries.

There is also an opportunity to turn in food and receive credit toward library fines. In Bradford, materials returned during National Library week have the late fees waived and previous fines or lost item fees are deleted.
S.W. Smith Memorial Library is also offering library patrons the chance to share quotes from books and reasons they love the library in art form by drawing with chalk on the sidewalks near the library throughout the week. Chalk will be provided. Patrons of S.W. Smith can also donate postage stamps during the week to help defray the cost of interlibrary loan and other communications that travel through the mail system. This can become quite costly during the summer months.

National Libraries Week, which is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), began in 1958. The designated week is meant to provide opportunity to “celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support,” according to the ALA.

This is the ideal time to find out how to help the local library. Volunteers are always welcome, and those who find they have time on their hands and aren’t sure of the best place to offer assistance can rest assured that their talents would be appreciated in some form through volunteering at the library.
The events for each library are as follows:

Bradford Area Public Library

Week long events include:

– Fine amnesty

– Raffle for those who sign up for a new card

– Table in lobby with games and contests, could win gift certificates

Day Specific Events:

– Monday, April 9 and Friday, April 13 – Morning Story Hour at 11 a.m.

– Wednesday, April 11 – Evening Story Hour at 6 p.m.

– April 11 – Author Julie Murphy at Wick Chapel, The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Community Forum 5 p.m., Fireside Chat 7 p.m., Book Signing to Follow

Friends’ Memorial Public Library in Kane

– Saturday, April 7 and April 14 – Books, Blocks and Bricks at 10:30 a.m.;

– Tuesday, April 10 – Scrapbookers at 1 p.m.

Mount Jewett Memorial Library

Week Long Events include:

– Food for Fine$;

– Raffles;

– Display of blue pinwheels in front of the library to show support of Child Abuse Awareness month (partnering with Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County)

S.W. Smith Memorial Library

National Library Week Kickoff:

– April 8 – Building Fun(d) 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s Fun Run

Race day registration will take place from 8 to 8:45 a.m. There is a $25 fee to register for the 5K Run/Walk. The 5K Run starts at 9 a.m. and the 5K Walk starts at 9:15 a.m. The Kids Fun Run starts at 10 a.m. and the cost is $5 per participant. The race begins and ends at the library,

Week Long Events include:

– Food for Fine$

– Stamp Up your Library

– Raffles for Pool Pass and two bags filled with summer fun items for children and adults

Day-Specific Events:

– Monday, April 9 – Chalk the Walk

– Tuesday, April 10 – National Library Workers’ Day – Library closes early so Library Board can honor workers with dinner

– Wednesday, April 11 – PA One Book Story Hour 10 a.m.

– Thursday, April 12 – Dear Day YA Book Tasting 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

– Friday, April 13 – Patron Appreciation Day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

– Saturday, April 14 – Drawing for Pool Pass and Summer Fun Bags Raffle, 3 p.m.

Hamlin Memorial Library in Smethport

Week Long Events:

– Three-day Book Sale

– Book Display in support of Child Abuse Awareness

– Food for Fine$

Day Specific Events:

– Wednesday, April 11 – Story Hour at 10 am

– Friday, April 13 – Free Coffee for Patron Appreciation Day