West Chester Library Association West Chester Public Library

WEST CHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY PROVIDES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION, IDEAS, AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH BOOKS, PROGRAMS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT LIFELONG LEARNING.

WCPL (LIBRARY) PROVIDES TRAINED STAFF TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS IN ACCESSING LIBRARY'S & CCLS MEMBER LIBRARIES' RESOURCES; LOCATING & ASSESSING ACCURATE INFORMATION VIA INTERNET; USING TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY (PCS, SCANNER, DOCUMENT CREATION SOFTWARE, ETC); ACCESSING EMATERIALS. STAFF MOVED CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING TO FULLY IN-PERSON IN 2022. CHILDREN'S SUMMER PROGRAMS WERE FULLY BOOKED. STAFF CONTINUED TO USE VIRTUAL PLATFORMS SUCH AS ZOOM, KAHOOT!, AND INSTAGRAM TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS TO SUPPLEMENT IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING. STAFF PROVIDED BOTH IN-PERSON EARLY LITERACY OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO AREA DAY-CARES & PRE-SCHOOLS SERVING LOW INCOME & AT-RISK FAMILIES, & CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

THE LIBRARY'S CORE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A CURRENT & USEFUL COLLECTION OF MATERIALS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS, INCLUDING DIGITAL, FOR USE BY ,GREATER WEST CHESTER AREA & CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, & PROPERTY OWNERS. 2022 BORROWING TOTALED 148,661 ITEMS, A 9% INCREASE OVER 2021. EMATERIAL USE TOTALED 30,207, ABOUT 20% OF TOTAL 2022 CIRCULATION. THE LIBRARY RECEIVED FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF ITS CHILDREN'S SUMMER READING CHALLENGE THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA'S EITC PROGRAM ($16,000). THE LIBRARY RECIEVED GRANTS FROM THE AARP FOUNDATION FOR OUTDOOR TERRACE FURNITURE AND THE JUSTAMERE FOUNDATION FOR CIRCULATING STEM KITS. STAFF MARKET AND PROMOTE THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, & SERVICES THROUGH IN-HOUSE INFORMATION, SPECIAL DISPLAYS, ENEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. STAFF ALSO PRESENT AN/OR HOST PROGRAMS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL AGE RANGES. THE LIBRARY HIRES OR PARTNERS WITH OUTSIDE PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT SOME PROGRAMS REQUIRING EXPERTISE IN THE SUBJECT.

SUPPLIES, OCCUPANCY COSTS, EQUIPMENT PURCHASES, WEEKLY CLEANING, & REPAIR COSTS TO MAINTAIN LIBRARY BUILDING & FURNISHINGS, AND LIBRARY MATERIALS. LIBRARY IS OPEN DAILY MONDAYS-SATURDAYS FOR A TOTAL OF 50 HOURS PER WEEK. LIBRARY HAS PCS/LAPTOPS, COPIER/PRINTER/SCANNER, & FREE, PASSWORDED WI-FI AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE. LIBRARY'S COMMUNITY/MEETING ROOM, WHEN NOT IN USE FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS, IS AVAILABLE FOR ELL & LITERACY TUTORS TO MEET IN. LOCAL GROUPS & BUSINESSES MAY RENT THE ROOM WHEN IT IS NOT OTHERWISE IN USE.