Media-Upper Providence Library

The library needs your help! At a recent Upper Providence Township budget hearing, it was announced that their proposed budget for the coming year included a 50% reduction in funding for the library. This $35,000 reduction represents roughly 10% of the library’s annual operating budget and would necessarily impact library services and programs and, potentially, hours of operation.

The Media-Upper Providence Library is always a hub of activity. It provides valued services and resources and plays a vital role in our community. We realize that times are tough for many communities throughout the country right now, but it is precisely at times like these that libraries are most needed.

How can you help? If you live in Upper Providence Township, please contact your council representative! (See the list below.) Let him know how much you value the library. Thank him for his past support of the library and encourage him to fund the library at the current level. If you do not live in Upper Providence but have friends who do, please share this information and encourage them to contact their council representative. At a loss for words? A sample letter can be found below.

Thank you for your support!

Upper Providence Township Council

Bill Clinton
1st District
610-565-6503
bill@billclintonconsulting.com

Fredric Reid
Vice Chair
2nd District
610-891-1758
mjrfjr@aol.com

Steve Visek
3rd District
610-565-0231
svisek@comcast.net

Ed Bierling, Chair
4th District
610-627-0258
bierlingupcouncil@comcast.net

Thomas McFadden
5th District
610-891-7910
jmr63@comcast.net

{Sample Letter}

Dear Councilman,

I am writing to express my support for the Media-Upper Providence Free Library. I understand that these are very difficult times for the township and for the country in general, but the Library is a vital and valuable institution in our community and must be adequately funded now more than ever!

I appreciate the financial support the township has provided the library in the past and trust that our tax dollars will continue to be used to fund this valuable community service at, or above, the 2009 level of support.

Sincerely,

[name]
[address]

You may be aware that Upper Providence Township is considering cutting library funding by 50%. If you are one of the many residents who has spoken out on behalf of the library we want to thank you. The council members have heard you loud and clear. But the campaign is not over! We still have work to do. As far as we know, the council still plans to cut their funding for the library from $70,000 to $35,000. While we do not yet know specifically how this will affect the library it is likely that a cut of this magnitude will impact salaries and thus services, programs and hours of operation.

Please contact your council representative and voice your support for the library. If you have already done so, please contact them once more. In addition to contacting township council you can also stop by the library to sign a petition in person.

We all know how important the library is to our community and we appreciate all the time and energy you are putting into the effort to maintain our current funding!

Sincerely,
The Board and Staff of the Media-Upper Providence Free Library

The Upper Providence Township budget hearing scheduled for Dec. 1 at 7pm has BEEN CANCELLED. No new date has been posted yet, but we’ll keep you informed. Again, thank you for all of your support. You can still come into the library and sign our petition to be taken to the rescheduled hearing.

We would like to thank everyone who supported the library through the Upper Providence budget hearings! The budget was cut approximately 24.5% instead of 50%.