Mansfield Free Public Library

Our small two story building in rural Pennsylvania  has been standing through sun, rain, sleet, and snow since 1901.  She is 124 years old with many stories to tell. Some truth, some fiction, some old, and some new. She has been around during wartime and peace, pandemics, poverty and prosperity.

Through it all she has remained a beloved place for people of all ages to visit. Some stop in just to chat or look around. Others to borrow a book, DVD, use the computers or WI-FI, or even participate in one of the programs. Parents teach their children how to look up books and share stories of which books were their favorites growing up. The library smiles when families play in the children's area. She offers all this and asks for nothing in return. 

Public libraries play such an important role in the community, especially smaller communities. We enjoy putting on various programs for all ages, fulfilling requests, and providing the most up-to-date materials. However, all of this is costly. The Librarians don't like to talk "cost". They just like to make people happy. It is a financial difficulty to go to the movies, out to eat, or other big events when someone has a big family or is on a limited income. The library remains a great source of free resources, entertainment, education, and social gathering. Free for the patrons, not the library. Our patrons are wonderful people, who contribute in so many ways. Time and non-monetary donations are just as important in their own ways. Raise the Region and all our donors have been helpful in attaining goals set in previous years.

This year we would like to use contributions to improve visibility within the library with better shelf stickers, that help patrons navigate and draw attention. We would also like to continue to build on programming available to all ages. Lastly, we would like to attract the tween and young adult age group that is so hard to get by making an area for them specifically and offering more STEM projects. Our numbers have been growing and we hope to continue to do so, but we need and appreciate your help. Please join us in continuing to move forward.