Phoenixville Library News & Job Openings

Phoenixville Public Library will launch its museum pass lending program in June.  You will be able to use your Chester County Library System card to gain free access to museums and other popular attractions in the Philadelphia area.  Passes will be available for:

• Academy of Natural Sciences
• Chanticleer Gardens
• Elmwood Park Zoo
• Morris Arboretum
• Museum of the American Revolution (already available!)
• Mütter Museum
• National Constitution Center
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• University of Pennsylvania Museum
• Wharton Esherick Museum

We will be rolling out these passes during the month of June as we receive them.  The passes will be available for FREE 3-day checkout to patrons age 18 or older with an up-to-date library card in good standing.  Holds may be placed in person or by phone to 610-933-3013 x121.  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x132 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding volunteer experience?  The Phoenixville Public Library Adult Services Department is looking for additional individuals to instruct patrons one-on-one in the basics of using computers and the Internet.  Fluency in the use of computers, laptops, smartphones, standard office productivity software, e-mail, the Web, and social networking tools is required, as are strong communication and interpersonal skills, friendliness, patience, and approachability.

Availability of two hours a week is desired.  Daytime and evening hours are available.  Applicant must submit to criminal background checks and child abuse clearance.  If interested, or for more information, see Mark Pinto, Adult Services Director, call 610-933-3013, Ext. 132 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org.

Effective Monday, November 28, the Library will open daily at 9:30 AM.  Closing times will remain the same.

Need Internet access at home, on vacation, or on the road for your business?  Phoenixville Public Library has partnered with T-Mobile to offer a limited number of mobile hotspots to our patrons for a nominal fee.  The Library hotspot program allows Chester County Library System card holders to access unlimited, high-speed Internet service anywhere a T-Mobile signal can be received.  Connect up to ten devices at a time, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.  Phoenixville Library offers hotspots for 7 or 14 day loan periods.  Rental fee is $14.00 for 7 days or $28.00 for 14 days.  Hotspots must be picked up from and returned to the Phoenixville Library’s Adult Circulation Desk, and are not reservable in advance.  Eligible borrowers must be at least 18 years of age, have an up-to-date library card and registration, have a library account in good standing (no fines or fees owed or other restrictions), and must pay the rental fee at the time of pickup.  Hotpots MAY NOT be returned to the outside bookdrops ($5.00 fine will apply).  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x122 or x132.

Mobile printing is now available at Phoenixville Public Library.  With the Library’s new MobilePrint Service, you can use your personal computer or mobile device to print to the Library’s printers from anywhere!  Did your home printer crash?  Are you on the go and need to print something from your smartphone or tablet?  Simply submit the documents for printing and come to the Library to release and pick them up, using an e-mail address.  To print from a home or office laptop or desktop, visit http://www.printeron.net/ppl/secondavenue.  To print from a tablet or smartphone app, install the PrinterOn app, available for free from your device’s app ‘store’, and search for Phoenixville.  You may also e-mail from any device to the Library’s print system at ppl-secondavenue-bw@printspots.com (black and white printouts) or ppl-secondavenue-color@printspots.com (color printouts).  Regular printing charges apply.  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x132.

The Library recently received a donation of a desktop video magnifier, for use in enlarging printed type, pictures, handwriting, and small details.  It is available for patron use at the Information Desk in the Adult Library.  Magnification level and display colors can be adjusted, and the device is simple to operate.  For more information, call 610-933-3013 x132.

Due to the inclement weather, the Library is closed today, Tuesday, December 10.  We expect to reopen at 9 AM on Wednesday, December 11.

The Library has just installed a new telephone system.  All of the Library’s phone extensions are now three digits long, with a 1 added to the beginning of the old two-digit extension numbers.  For example, the extension for the Children’s Library Circulation Desk used to be 24 and is now 124.  See http://www.phoenixvillelibrary.org/staff-board/ for the new phone extensions of Library management staff.  Every effort has been made to update phone extension numbers referenced on the pages of our website.  If we’ve missed any, please contact us to let us know.  Thank you!

Those of you planning to come to the Library on Thursday evening, July 11, should be aware of street closures and traffic issues in Phoenixville surrounding the Criterium bicycle race that takes place tomorrow from 5 to 9 PM.  Please click the following link for more information:

http://www.phoenixvillechamber.org/newsletter_archive/CGP_Phoenixville_Resident-Business_Notice_2013-1.pdf  Thank you.

Behind-the-scenes meetings continue this week between legislative leaders and Governor Corbett as they work toward a final budget before the June 30 deadline. Email messages to your Senator and to the Governor can still make a big difference.We can achieve progress but only if you join with hundreds of other library advocates all across the state who have decided to Take Action.

Just as a reminder, the budget that passed the House now being considered in the Senate:

·increases Library Access/POWER Library by $500,000 (+ 17.7%) and the State Library by $29,000 (+1.5%), and,

·level-funds the Public Library Subsidy ($53.5 million) and Library Services for the Visually impaired and Disabled ($2.5 million.)

We recognize that these increases will not solve all library service and funding challenges overnight. But on the plus side, these funding increases would represent genuine progress in a year greatly complicated by weak economic recovery and big-ticket budget items such as pension reform, transportation funding, and liquor privatization.

Since the House-passed budget bill included some increases, there is real reason for hope in the Senate. But we dare not take anything for granted. Click Here to send an email message to your State Senator and to Governor Corbett.

Please spread this word as widely as possible and please don’t delay. We’re in the mix and the goal is close at hand.

Thank you for your membership and great support of PaLA’s advocacy goals. Most of all, thanks for Taking Action to improve library services!

Glenn

Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association
220 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055