by Joe Miller,
Director of Development
The Library Lines team is celebrating Christmas this week. We’re reprinting the holiday letter we sent out to our mailing list. If you didn’t get a letter and would like to next year, drop me a line at joe@pocahontaslibrary.org
We write to extend warm wishes for a joyous holiday season!
This has been an eventful year in the PCL and VIC system. For the first time, we have co-directors at the library. Hallie Herold ensures that the libraries continue to operate as smoothly and efficiently as always, while I work on securing ongoing, steady sources of funding.
It’s been another busy year! We recorded more than 31,000 visits across our five branches. That’s an incredible figure in a county with fewer than 8,000 residents. You simply don’t see those numbers in most rural libraries.
I’ve been with the library for only a few months, but that’s plenty of time to realize how much each branch means to its community. I was at Green Bank when volunteers washed all the toys from the children’s section. I met community leaders who willed Linwood into existence. I read financial records showing the generosity that built a new facility in Durbin. I saw the Friends of the Hillsboro Library buy new furniture for the community room. I joined the visitors traipsing to McClintic to admire the art contest entries at Pioneer Days.
In a recent Library Lines column, I noted that library use decreases when patrons have to travel further to reach them.
We staff five full-service branches—one in each of our communities. That means we can offer services tailored to each community and that more of our residents can take advantage of those services. When you check out a book, read a magazine through Libby, browse the Internet from our public WiFi, borrow from our seed library, visit an exhibit or attend a program, you’re telling the world that public libraries are important. We are grateful for each and every one of you.
But maintaining those services across five branches is expensive. Public funds are finite and fickle. A warm winter or a change in county priorities creates the potential for large swings in annual funding. Donations from the public help to stabilize our funding.
I ask those of you who are able to please consider a gift this holiday season. You can send your donation to PCL and VIC, 500 Eighth Street, Marlinton WV 24954; drop it off in person; or donate online at www.pocahontaslibrary.org
Thank you all for being part of our library community!
Warmest regards,
Joe Miller and Hallie Herold
Co-directors, PCL and VIC
