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LONG TERM LIBRARY PLAN
To properly understand the long-term plan of the Pike County Public Library, we must review its Mission, History, Current Status, Services Required, the Plan for Delivery of Services, and Funding.
MISSION
The Pike County Public Library, as designated by the Pike County Board
of Commissioners, serves ALL FULL-TIME AND PART TIME RESIDENTS OF PIKE
COUNTY by providing the materials and services to meet their demands and
expectations. The Library provides leadership in the community by encouraging
life-long learning for residents of all ages and serves as a primary information
source for educational, recreational and cultural opportunities. Providing
popular materials for all, and fostering an interest in reading and learning
in young children receive special attention from the Library. The Pike
County Public Library supports the right of all citizens to free access
to information.
HISTORY
The current library system started in 1874 as a Reading room when there
were only 9000 people spread across the 547 square miles of the County.
The Library was relocated to the Milford Community House in 1901. In 1928
the Library was designated as a County institution by the Board of Commissioners
who set an annual appropriation to help support the facility. During the
early period of operation the Library was organized in Milford, the area
of greatest population. Branches were established in Dingman's Ferry,
Bushkill, Paupack, Lackawaxen, Matamoras, Shohola and Blooming Grove.
All of these branches were discontinued
CURRENT STATUS
The Pike County Library System is charged with providing library services
to the current permanent population of the fastest growing County in Pennsylvania
with a 2000 Census population of 46,302 inhabitants. The second home population
grows to over 60,000 during periods of peak visitation. These inhabitants
create high short time demand on the current Library system. However,
the served permanent resident population of the System is at most only
about 30,000 inhabitants, since the Library does not reach a significant
part of the County's population or geography. The current branches are
located at the Milford Community House, Greeley (Lackawaxen Township),
and Dingman Township
SERVICES REQUIRED
Based on the Demographics of the County now and projected in the 5-10
year future, a recent Library Study suggested the most immediate and important
services required from the Library System were:
1. POPULAR MATERIALS LIBRARY
A. Provide a basic collection of currently useful educational, informational
and recreational materials.
2. CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS DOOR TO LEARNING
A. Preschooler's programs such as story time
B. Adolescent programs for Young Adults
3. LIFE-LONG LEARNING CENTER - RESEARCH CENTER
A. Programs for Seniors
B. Electronic access and resources
C. Reference materials
D. Interlibrary loans for access to books and information anywhere
E. Hours of operation which fit the local needs
THE PLAN
The plan, which was created by the Planning Committee of the Library Board,
was approved by the full Board on the 13th of September 1999. It details
how the Library system will expand over an appropriate period to provide
local presence and service and add the programming required to serve our
residents from Preschool to seniors.
DELIVERING THE SERVICES
A new main branch and administrative headquarters will replace the current
operation at the Community House in Milford. Two new branches will be
added to bring the physical library within a reasonable distance of all
residents. The branches will be set up on a regional basis and cover the
following areas:
A. MILFORD MAIN BRANCH/ ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS TO COVER MILFORD BORO,
MILFORD TOWNSHIP, MATAMORAS, WESTFALL AND PARTS OF SHOHOLA AND DINGMAN
B. LACKAWAXEN BRANCH TO COVER PART OF LACKAWAXEN TOWNSHIP AND PARTS OF
SHOHOLA AND BLOOMING GROVE.
C. DINGMAN BRANCH TO COVER DINGMAN TOWNSHIP DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, AND PARTS
OF BLOOMING GROVE.
D. LEHMAN BRANCH TO COVER LEHMAN TOWNSHIP, PORTER TOWNSHIP AND PART OF
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.
E. PALMYRA BRANCH TO COVER PALMYRA AND GREENE TOWNSHIPS AND PARTS OF LACKAWAXEN
AND BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIPS IN COOPERATION WITH THE HAWLEY AND NEWFOUNDLAND
LIBRARY BRANCHES OF THE WAYNE COUNTY SYSTEM
FINANCING.
1. Allocation from the Commissioners
2. Pennsylvania State funding
3. School Districts
4. Capital Fund drives
5. Funding from municipalities and townships.
6. Fund raising programs
7. General library support tax on county residents (future)
Efforts are underway to add facilities to cover areas A, D & E. Our
new branch (2001) in Dingman Township has been very successful. With continued
cooperation from the Commissioners, the State, local municipalities and
School Districts, we expect to accelerate our efforts over the next few
years to make the Pike County Library a first class System of which we
can all be proud.
