Pottstown Library Needs Region's Support

The Pottstown Regional Public Library has begun its end of year appeal for funds.

You can donate online by clicking right here.

The library gets public funding, at varying levels, from the borough and the three surrounding townships of Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove and West Pottsgrove.

Cutting the ribbon on the interior renovations.

(It also gets many users from North Coventry, who make no tax contribution but find it more convenient than the library in Ludwig's Corner of Phoenixville, the nearest Chester County libraries).

It also gets funding from the state, funding that has not been increased in years, but is under constant threat of being decreased.

Nevertheless, through grants, fundraising events and donations, the library just last December completed a $755,000 renovation to the interior of the historic building that was once Pottstown's Post Office.

As board member Arthur Green recently reported to borough council, the library is now making use of a Schuylkill Highlands mini-grant to design improvements to the exterior, with an eye toward stormwater control and keeping it out of the building's basement.

The full "wish list" would cost about $235,000, Green said, adding that the landscape advisers broke the project up into smaller segments that could be completed sequentially as money became available.

More than 1,200 people attended the library's 

solar eclipse program last month.

"So obviously, the library and the community are going to have to raise some money," said Green.

If you, by chance, think libraries are obsolete in the age of Internet wisdom, consider that the solar eclipse program last month at the library was its largest event ever, with more than 1,200 people, who made eclipse T-shirts and received 450 free eclipse glasses.

You might say it "eclipsed" all previous events .... sorry, couldn't resist.

If that's not enough evidence for you that more people than you think use the library, consider this information contained in the latest appeal letter:

Who are the people coming to the Pottstown Regional Public Library?A preschooler attending story time

Pottstown Schools students use the library regularly.

• A preschooler attending story time.
• A family checking out a museum pass for an educational and fun day
• An adult using a quiet area to prepare for a professional examination
• Two sisters researching their family in the newspaper archives
• A legally blind patron browsing audiobooks with the assistance of a staff member
• A student checking out a WiFi HotSpot for school projects

These people, and many more like them, are using the Pottstown Regional Public Library for educational, recreational, social, financial, and professional reasons. 

With your library card you have access to a wealth of materials and resources, both in the Library and through the Library website. Since 1921, the Pottstown Regional Public Library has existed to meet the needs of our community. This goal is not possible without your support.

Ryan Costello

Pottstown Regional Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Financial support from patrons, businesses, and foundations is essential. The library would welcome a donation to the 2017 year-end campaign, which will provide much-needed support for services and programs.

The Pottstown Regional Public Library is even a place where you can make contact with your Congressman. On the first and third Thursday of every month, either U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., or someone from his office holds office hours at the library from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If you need more information about what the library offers, check this out:

Available at Pottstown Regional Public Library:

• A collection of 70,000 books, magazines, audiobooks, music, movies and kits
• Plus access to library collections in Montgomery County and across PA

  

  The entire basement of the library is devoted to children.

• Classes and workshops for children, teens and adults
• Public computers, WiFi, fax, copy and print services
• Passes for Elmwood Zoo, Morris Arboretum, Reading Public Museum, and Boyertown Museum of
• Historic Vehicles
• Ancestry.com - genealogical research
• Foundation Directory - research grant opportunities for non-profits
• T-Mobile Hotspots and ROKUs to loan
• Passport services

Your Virtual Library 24/7:

The library often hosts Science in the Summer.

• Online library catalog for searching, reserving, and renewing library materials
• Overdrive - e-books
• Zinio - digital magazines
• Mango - language learning
• Brainfuse - homework help and test preparation
• JobNow - resume and job search services
• Freegal - downloadable and streaming music and streaming video
• Reference USA - address and phone number directory
• Tumblebooks - animated read-along children’s books
• Universal Class - instructor led online classes with course completion certificates

Hours of Operation:

• Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Grant to Improve Colebrookdale RR Station, Car

A volunteer prepares a historic brick for placement in the walksways being installed at the Colebrookdale Railroad's station in Boyertown.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Colebrookdale Railroad

The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust announced it has received a $10, 750 grant to support its passenger car restoration and Boyertown Station area improvements.

The scenic railroad runs between downtown Boyertown and Memorial Park in Pottstown.

The grant comes from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation, in support of the Schuylkill Highlands Mini-Grant Program administered jointly by Natural Lands and the Schuylkill River Heritage Association.

The award will match other funding to continue work on the creation of an ADA-compatible railcar and to create walkways in the Boyertown rail yard using century-old paving brick.

Both projects will forward the Trust's mission of being one of the only recreational and tourist railroads in the nation to embrace, rather than merely accommodate, persons with disabilities. 

"The challenges inherent to making a century-and-a-half old railroad accessible to persons with mobility issues is technically challenging and financially overwhelming,” said Nathaniel Guest, Executive Director of the Trust. "The Mini-Grant’s support is an honor, a major help, and truly remarkable, as funding for ADA projects is sadly otherwise almost non-existent,” he said.

"The Mini-Grant program has helped dozens of projects in the Schuylkill Highlands region open up the beauty and culture of the region to a larger population, said Carol DeWolf of Natural Lands. 

"We are proud to lead partners like the Trust in making a real and measurable impact economically and in the quality of life of people in the Schuylkill Highlands and look forward to even better things to come in the future," said Tim Fenchel of the Schuylkill River Heritage Association.

The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust has a mission to develop the best tourist railroad of the 1900-1920 era and drive economic development in the Tri-County Area. Tickets for adventures into the railroad's Secret Valley can be found at www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

Think Globally, Award Locally

Photo by Evan Brandt

Andy Pitz, executive director of the French and Pickering

Creek Conservation Trust, addresses the problems
of climate change.

Friday morning found this reporter sitting in the meeting room of the Connections-on-High Cafe in the old New York Store building for a meeting of the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape event and meeting.

If you want to know more about the speakers who tied local actions to global results, pick up a copy of Mondays paper for my story on the subject (unless, you know, there's a car crash or something Sunday.)

For the story on the impacts of tourism in Pennsylvania and the region, check out The Mercury's business (or news) pages in the next couple of days.

If you want to know what it was like being there in the moment, live Tweeting, then read on fearless reader.

Mini Grants in the Highlands

A new brochure for the Hopewell Big Woods will be paid for with one of the mini grands announced Monday.

Blogger's Note: The following is an announcement provided by the Schyulkill Highlands organization and includes several local projects,including in North Coventry, Spring City and Trappe.

Nine projects have received funding through a Schuylkill Highlands Mini Grant Program jointly administered by Natural Lands Trust and the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. 

The Director of the Schuylkill Highlands, Carol DeWolf of Natural Lands Trust is pleased to announce that several great projects are being awarded supportive grant funding as part of the Schuylkill Highlands Mini Grant Program Round 6 awards. 

Several programs at the Speakers House
in Trappe will be funded by grants.

“We had an especially great round of conservation projects submitted, and we are pleased to announce that many water resource protection projects within key sub watersheds were chosen to receive funding including, riparian buffer projects to protect streamside historic sites and enhance recreational areas, watershed habitat assessments and visitor amenities to deepen their experience when visiting historic sites”.

The grants, totaling over $77, 000 advance natural resource conservation and nature-based tourism within the Schuylkill Highlands. 

Included among the nine projects funded are: 

• The land protection and stewardship along Tulpehocken Creek and the Union Canal Trail awarded to the Berks County Parks Department, 
• A riparian buffer project being undertaken by the North Coventry Parks Department at Kenilworth Park, 
• A stream monitoring program for the Hopewell Big Woods undertaken by the Hay Creek Watershed,
• A water resources habitat assessment and fishing access and trail project by French Creek by French and Pickering Creeks Conservancy, 
• A new brochure for the Hopewell Big Woods, being completed by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, 
• Historic markers in Spring City at Bridge Street, 
• A new brochure for the Schuylkill Canal trails system , and 



A new brochure for the Schuylkill Canal Trails system is among
the grant winners. Pictured, Lock 60 in Mont Clare.

• Several initiatives at the historic Speakers House in Trappe. 

The grants represent the fall 2012 Application Round of Awards, and work will be progressing on these starting this month. 

The Schuylkill Highlands Mini Grant Program began in 2010 to support the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative (CLI) and is funded by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the William Penn Foundation. 

Thus far the Schuylkill Highlands Mini Grant Program has awarded over $600,000 in supportive grants to regional projects. These grants have served to protect the natural and cultural resources of this region, adding also to the user experiences and connecting residents to the myriad of offerings provided in this region.

The Schuylkill Highlands is an area which encompasses a large geography including the Schuylkill River watershed in part and the Pennsylvania Highlands. 

The Schuylkill River in Berks County

The Schuylkill Highlands CLI is a place based strategy for natural resource and stewardship supporting this key landscape where there is local willingness and support for conservation as well as locally driven planning and community economic development. 

The Schuylkill Highlands Partnership has forged a variety of partners within the Schuylkill Highlands, all working together to preserve, restore, and enhance the natural, historic, cultural, and recreational resources, and encourage sustainable practices to create healthy and vibrant communities for current and future residents.