HEADLINES:
Come See Me!
Library Membership Campaign Underway

Come See Me!

Hi! My  name is Merlin, and I’m the “leopard” dog. Everyone thinks I’m a cattle dog mix, but I sure look cool. I’m really friendly and playful, but need to be owned by someone who is strong, active and will keep me occupied until I get tired. I would be the perfect companion for a young guy who wants to have great times with his dog. Remember, I’ve been cooped up for awhile, so I’ll need to get rid of some energy when you come to see me.

I’ll be waiting for you at the Susquehanna County Humane Society Shelter in Montrose, (570) 278–1228.

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Library Membership Campaign Underway

The 2007 membership campaign for the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association is in progress. Membership materials have been mailed and are also available at local libraries and online at www.susqcolibrary.org.

Once again, the goal is 1000 members – a modest one, considering that there are over 17,500 registered library users and thousands more who use the Historical Society and museum. Individual members contribute $20 or more, families $30 or more, sustaining members $100 or more, and benefactors $250 and up.

Contributions of any size are welcomed. Local support is one of the factors used to determine the amount of funding provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – the more local support, the more funding received. The membership drive is still crucial, despite the very welcome news that state funding will be restored to its historic levels for 2006-2007, thanks to the vocal support of the community. Inflation, insurance price hikes, and the minimum wage raise all mean that the same dollars don’t go as far.

The membership card’s eye-popping orange color draws attention to its exciting contents: 2007 is the Association’s 100th anniversary of service to Susquehanna County. On it are some illuminating comparisons between what the Library and Historical Society did in 1907 and what they offer today.

Members of the Association support county-wide library services and the county Historical Society. They receive a quarterly newsletter devoted to the Association's activities and events, and are entitled to vote at the annual meeting (the last Saturday in January).

The money given by members and friends helps fund county-wide library service, provided through four locations (Montrose, Forest City, Hallstead-Great Bend, and Susquehanna) and by the county-wide Books-by-Mail/Books-on-Wheels service. Contributions enable the Association to purchase books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, audio books, and other materials, which are available to all residents of Susquehanna County. Continually-expanding informational resources are available through the libraries. At each location you will find free high-speed Internet access; online databases like Learning Express and POWER Library that can also be accessed from home with your library card; workstations with the full Microsoft Office suite, free training programs, and high-speed laser printers; CD-ROM games for children; and a catalog of library holdings across Pennsylvania (which can be requested through Inter-Library Loan at no charge). Visit the library's website at www.susqcolibrary.org for more information. "All our technology has been funded entirely through grants," notes Administrator/Librarian Susan Stone, "and we are always seeking new grants as we find out about them."

Donations also help fund the County Historical Society and its museum, open to the public at no charge. People seeking information on their local ancestors visit the Historical Society's Genealogy Research Center. Visitors come from all over the country, bringing their tourist dollars to benefit local businesses! The Historical Society is open every weekday (October to April: 9-5 on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 12-5 on Tuesday and Wednesday; 9-5 all week the rest of the year), more hours than any neighboring historical society. The Historical Society also publishes a biannual journal, available by subscription, on local history and genealogy. The Historical Society's website has a wealth of information about our county; visit www.susqcohistsoc.org.

The many programs sponsored by the Library and Historical Society also depend on community support. Open houses, Babies & Books, Toddler Time, Pre-School Story Hour, Summer Reading, educational programs for home-schooling families, the Write and Illustrate Your Own Picture Book contest, guest speakers, Hobby Night, and other special events are very popular.

Mary Jo Bayer and Judy Decker lead the Membership Drive committee this year. For more information about the membership drive or any of the Association's services, call 278–1881 or visit www.susqcolibrary.org.

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