The Library will be closed on these following days in 2009:

• Christmas: Close at 1pm on Thursday, December 24, and closed Friday, December 25 and Saturday, December 26
• New Year’s: Thursday, December 31, Friday, January 1st, 2010, and Saturday, January 2nd, 2010.

  First Summer Saturday is June 20, 2009.
  Last Summer Saturday is August 29, 2009.
  The Library will close at 2pm rather than 5pm on Summer Saturdays.

As of Monday, November 30th, the library’s hours of operation will be changing, due to recent state funding cuts. The hours will be as follows:

• Monday – Thursday: 9 AM to 8 PM
• Friday & Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Sunday: Closed

Please consider donating to our 2009 Patrons Drive. All funds collected are used to purchase new materials for the library. Read more here: 2009 Patrons Drive

Thank you!

Meadville Public Library will host an all day event this Saturday, October 24th, celebrating the Federal Writers Project of the 1930’s. Linda Bills, director of Pelletier Library at Allegheny College received an N.E.H. Grant to do the program “Soul of a People: The Federal Writers Project.” One aspect of the grant is a community celebration involving organizations outside the college.

Events include:

• an exhibit of clothes from the 1930’s from the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, in the Fiction Department. There will also be a selection of hats popular in the 30’s for people to try on.
• 1930’s movie clips will be running in the Children’s Room theater.
• Children’s board games from the 30’s will be featured in the Children’s Room, including Monopoly & Scrabble. Outdoor games will be featured in the side yard of the library, weather permitting. There will also be a “guess the hobo signs” game.
• The Main Floor will feature 1930’s radio programs and an exhibit on the Federal Writer’s Project. If there are volunteers, exhibits on local organizations and businesses in the 30’s will be featured as well.

For more info on the Soul of the People grant program: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/soulpeople/index.cfm

Wikipedia page on the Federal Writer’s Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Writers’_Project

The Meadville Public Library announces today that purchases for new materials have been suspended until a new budget is passed in Harrisburg.

John Brice, Executive Director of the Meadville Public Library commented on the decision: “We normally receive our state funding in January. However, due to the lack of a state budget that funding may or may not happen. In order to make sure we have enough operating cash available in January we are temporarily suspending purchases of new books and materials until then.”

The suspension on book purchases will begin on September 1, 2009 and will continue until the State passes a budget. All materials ordered before the suspension will be received and catalogued. Books purchased with Patrons Drive funds and Memorial gifts will not be suspended.