Friends of the Adams County Library System DECEMBER 2010

Between Friends is the newsletter of the Friends of the Adams County Library System Friends of the Library, PO Box 4792, Gettysburg, PA 17325 OFFICERS President Ila Verdirame Vice President Ralph Cavaliere Rec. Secretary Linda Jorgensen Corr. Secretary Roz Parkhurst Treasurer Virginia Ciliotta Historian Kathy Schneider COMMITTEES Bookstore Ray Pollock Book Sale Marian Benchoff Computer Systems Mgr. Clodius Willis Mail Coordinator Judy Watt Membership Michele Orner Newsletter Ruthe CraleyEditor Ellie SheenLay-out Publicity Ruthe Craley Recycling Ray Pollock Volunteer Coordinators Book Sale Mary Beth Stamm Book Store Jane Brown WEB www.adamslibrary.org/fol EMAIL fol@adamslibrary.org CONTACT 717-2531157

Between Friends
The Friends of the Adams County Library has recently established a Named Endowment in honor of Marian Benchoff, the System's all -star volunteer.

FRIENDS HONOR MARIAN BENCHOFF

Ms. Benchoff serves as chairperson of the annual Used Book Sale Bonanza. This includes organizing a team of volunteers who sort donated books and Rob Lesher, ACLS Director, interrupted the book sorting in the other items on a weekly Library garage to present Marian Benchoff with a Named Endowment created in her honor by the Friends of the Adams County Libasis, storing and then moving those books to the brary. In the photo from left to right are Ellie Kuhn, Nancy Gettysburg Middle School Harmon, Dotty Fidler, Marian Benchoff, Maryann Oelkers and Rob for the August sale. This Lesher. Sale raises about a third of the annual pledge of $60,000 which is made to the System by FOL. The Marian Benchoff Named Endowment will be used to purchase children's books. Anyone who wishes to add to this Endowment may do so by sending a check to the Adams County Library System, 140 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

GIFTS

GIFTS

tore Book S Friends d be perfect k the to chec t woul Be sure rful books tha ng person. de vi for won pecial book-lo ts for tha

President Ila Verdirame has packed a big Santa bag full of wonderful Christmas books, for both children and adults, to take to the GETTYSBURG HIGH SCHOL HOLIDAY MARKET on Saturday, December 11 from 10 AM until 2 PM. Pick up an extra gift or two and support local students as well.

How about buy bership in F ing a memOL for a frie nd, a teacher, U ncle Harry wh needs to rea d more or th o e dog? Or jus t to say a gre at big Merry Christmas to the Friends?

GIF TS

CHANGES and THANKS

By Rob Lesher
Library Director
2010 has been a year of many changes here at the Adams County Library System. The system had to make many difficult decisions because of the financial challenges that this difficult economy has caused. Consequently, the library made a number of cuts last year to be able to keep services at the level which the public expects and deserves. All services for the library were evaluated and the cuts which were made specifically targeted where we could consolidate, downsize, or use technology to do the job more efficiently. We have weathered these cuts and this tough financial year and it seems to have worked. Circulation is up. Visits are up. Internet use is up. The residents of the county are getting the services which they need. However, we will begin 2011 facing another state funding cut. The state budget reduced library funding by

an additional 11% over last year. This means another tightening of the belt and a number of additional cuts to make up the income shortfall. These cuts this year will be in our book and technology budgets. This is painful for us because we truly feel that books, other materials and technology is our business and without them the public suffers. We will do our best to minimize the impact of these cuts and feel we can still provide a really quality service at our budget targets. There are a number of bright spots. The stock market is recovering which means that our investment income has improved and this allows us to use these investments to make up some of the cuts which we will see in state funding. Most importantly, the Friends of the Library (you) have been extremely generous. Thanks to your renewed membership, annual book sale and store sales, the Friends this year exceeded their original pledge of $60,000 and will give the library an additional $14,000 at a time when we need it most. I would like to thank you so much for these funds. The additional funds have allowed the library to move forward with our commitment to the new facility in Littlestown which will be opening its doors in January. Thank you again for all of your hard work and support for the library system. Have a happy healthy holiday season and know that we will be here to make 2011 a truly spectacular year.

FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Adams County Library was held recently in the Eisenhower Room at the Library. The current officers were reelected for 2011. ( See sidebar on the first page.) Friends President Ila Verdirame presented a check to Chris Frye, President of the Adams County Library System. This fulfilled the $60,000 annual pledge from FOL to the Library. Due to successful projects, FOL was able to give a larger amount than pledged. These projects are the annual Used Book Sale in the summer, increased FOL Memberships, and the continuing profits from the Book Store located in the Library.

Presidents Ila and Chris

These activities are all volunteer-directed. There are many other volunteer "opportunities" with the Friends and throughout the entire Library. Please consider becoming a volunteer and please support our projects and programs by becoming a member of the Friends. (See the application/renewal form on the back page.)

NEWS OF LITTLESTOWN LIBRARY

Our System sister to the south, The Littlestown Library, 232 N. Queen St., Littlestown is rapidly moving along to full operation "sometime" in January 2011. The branch has been operating out of a small space, about 750 square feet, in the community center building. It will move into an area slightly more than 3,000 square feet. This building will include a children's section, community and reading rooms, and will increase its collection of books and other informational materials from 4,000 to 15,000 items. The Adams County Friends of the Library recently made a substantial donation to the new Library for help with furnishing its exciting new home.

TALKING ABOUT BOOKS

Book discussion groups are becoming very popular everywhere, according to a recent survey of leisure time activities. The Adams County Library System is offering a number of such groups and all are open to the public and all meet at the individual Libraries, whether it is your home library or not, but a phone call ahead will help with the librarys arrangements.

Biglerville (677-6257) will meet on January 6 at 6:30 PM. They will discuss The Kitchen House by Katherine Grisson Fairfield (642-6009) will meet on the 3rd Thursday in January to discuss A Plague of Doves by Louise Erdich Gettysburg (334-5716) has a program called Bring-a-Book which meets every three weeks on Monday at 10 AM. This is a round table presentation with each participant reading parts or discussing the book they are currently reading. Littlestown (359-0446) will meet at noon on December 14. (The Library will not be open until 1 PM.) The discussion will be about the book, Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. NewOxford (624-2182) Readers will meet at 9 AM on January 6 to discuss The #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith and also at 9 AM on January 13 to discuss Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. East Berlin (259-9000) The group will meet at 7 PM on Tuesday, January 25 to discuss Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.

BOOK STORE TREASURES

We'll take another opportunity to remind you of the wonderful buys and bargains in the Library Book Store. So many people are very generous in cleaning out their bookshelves and very often, those donations are books that are practically brand new. These are carefully sorted and sent upstairs where they can be priced a little more in line with regular merchandizing. If they don't sell there, down they come again and eventually end up at the summer Book Sale where they are happily snapped up by excited bargain hunters. But, here's a chance to see them first. Perhaps the coupon below will give you an incentive to come in and look around!

Just a few of the Christmas books on display in the Book Store.

OR $2 OFF
ANY OTHER BOOK PRICED AS
MARKED

ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE NOT REDEEMABLE FOR CASH

STORE HOURS MON SAT 9:30am-4:30pm SUNDAY 1 4:30pm

LOCATED INSIDE ADAMS CO. LIBRARY 140 BALTIMORE STREET GETTYSBURG, PA 17325

FREE PAPERBACK

Are you a member of the ACLFOL? It's the best bargain in town.

SUPPORT ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARIES Be a FRIEND

2011 Membership Application/Renewal
Because I believe that the Adams County Library System is essential to our communities, I am enclosing my donation to become a member of the FRIENDS in support of the Library. Please Return completed form with your tax-deductible donation to

Friends of the Library, PO Box 4792, Gettysburg, PA 17325 $ 20 $35 $50 $100 Other ____________
NAME________________________________________________ PHONE ______________ ADDRESS_______________________________ CITY, ZIP __________________________________

I would like to help the FRIENDS and the Library by volunteering:

_____ Process used books _____ Process mailings _____ Staff the Book Store ____ Work at the Book Sale Bonanza

Library patrons of all sizes and shapes found it hard to say goodbye to CHRISTA STEWART as she relocated to Rochester, N.Y. with her husband.

However, we are happy to welcome WANDA REIGLE who will serve as Administrative Support to Director Rob Lesher.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Friends of the Library P.O Box 4792 Gettysburg, PA 17325-4792

ArendtsvilleBiglerville Fairfield Littlestown East Berlin Gettysburg New Oxford

Mon--Sat. 9:30AM-4:30PM Sunday-1:30PM-4:30PM

BOOK STORE HOURS

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Gettysburg PA 17325 Permit No. 257