The ten years following our Fortieth Anniversary Celebration held Monday evening, April 2, 1979, have been busy and exciting ones.
A final report of our Fortieth Celebration was given by Anna Lorne, General Chairman. To start the celebration a program was held in the Social Hall of the Freedom Volunteer Fire Department, followed by "Open House" in the Library rooms, Second Floor, Municipal Building. The program included Special Honors, Special Recognitions, Poster Contest Awards, choral selections by Freedom Senior Woman's Club chorus and the speaker, George T. Pettibon, Beaver County Commissioner. The success of the celebration, she stated, was due to those who volunteered their time and services. She thanked every one involved.
In January 1979 the Board accepted the resignation of Alberta Morrison as an assistant to the librarian.
In 1980 the Board appointed Mrs. Ellen LaValle to serve as Community Representative and Mrs. Helen Hazenstab as outside the Freedom Area Representative to the Beaver County Advisory Council of the Beaver County Library Commssion. Our board member, Anna Lorne, was elected President of the Beaver County Advisory Council to serve for two years. This Advisory Council was abolished in 1984. In 1981 our nominee, Casper DePaolis, was accepted and appointed by the County Commissioners to serve on the Beaver County Library Commission.
The board members voted to participate in the Sesquicentennial Celebration (150 years) of the Borough of Freedom. They purchased and signed a Scroll that was placed in the Time Capsule.
The County Interlibrary Loan Policy was initiated, a new billing system for new books was begun, and a Micro-Mini Reader was received from County Headquarters.
We purchased a Film Strip Projector and two Library Emblem signs to be placed on Third Avenue, one for traffic going south and one going north.
The board endorsed the Beaver County Library System Personnel Policy, revised our own and amended the library Bylaws.
During this ten year period the library had two moves. First - from the Municipal Building to the first floor of the Liberty School building, Fourth Avenue, in September of 1984. Second - in 1988 from the first floor to the second floor of the same building (the present location.) The board appreciates and thanks all those who helped during both of these moves. It also wishes to thank the Freedom Area School Board for giving us this space which has made it possible for the Library to continue to function in the community.
The year 1982 was the beginning of the "Volunteers of the Library". They volunteer for various types of service for the Library when needed, such as assisting the librarian, addressing fund drive letters, helping at "open house", flea market, and the Easter Egg Hunt. The board honors the volunteers each year at a Christmas dinner, which has been held in the home of a board member. At the dinner in 1988 Wahneta Hough and Harry Golletti, trustees. were recognized for their years of service - 29 and 25 years respectively.
Our librarian, Mrs. Frances Ambrose., was honored by the Board of Trustees at a dinner meeting held at Didio's Restaurant on September 9, 1988. She was presented a gift in recognition of her 20 years of service.
It was Easter of 1986 that we cooperated with Mayor Harry Golletti's office in sponsoring the first Easter Egg Hunt. The library's Easter Egg Hunt committee has been chaired each year since by Mrs. Beverly Smith, trustee.
In addition to the regular Children's Story Hours the librarian started one for toddlers. For a short time she had women from the community coning into the library for craft classes.
We cooperate with the County Literacy Program by providing space for tutors and their students. The present active tutors are Wahneta Hough and Doris Cumbus.
we received from the County Library Federated System a 25" colored television with mobile stand and a video player-recorder through a special grant. We receive video deposit collections (which are kept in special -cabinets) from the System. They are changed periodically.
In 1987 we became a participant in Access Pennsylvania and endorsed the new Adult Service by the County System. This year Mrs. Polly Inge started to work in the library under the Green Thumb Program.
During these ten years we have received the following by donations, memorials? gifts and purchases:
1 -Books from the Library of Mrs. Gladys Hoover, Historian of Beaver County Historical Society, by her family.
2 -Three book cases -and a two drawer file cabinet.
3 -75th Diamond Jubilee Book of the History of the Catholic Church in Freedom by St. Felix Church.
4 - 19" TV with proceeds from Flea Market.
5 - An electric wall clock and mobile cart by Nilo Golletti family.
6 - A reconditioned copier machine and a dehumidifier.
7 -A record rack made by Mack Brown with monetary donation from Mrs. Mary Wilson.
8 -A new TA Adler-Royal Copy machine and stand to replace the reconditioned copier which was sold.
9 - A new Charger with grant money received from the County.
10 -A new set of Encyclopedia Britannica and a set of Comptons Encyclopedia with bookcases by Mrs. Mary Arbutina family.
11 -Books in memory and honor of individuals have been donated by relatives and friends.
All donations, gifts and memorials are recorded in our "Remembrance" book, which is available for viewing in the Library.
A recent report of the use of the Library shows the following:
Registered Borrowers
Adult 454
Children 423
Total 877
Adult collection - 10,027
Children collection- 3,757
Total 13,784
Records and cassettes - 951 Deposit collection from the county 200 videos Circulation for 1988 - 7,896 (Library closed one month for moving)
Our progress and achievements have been made possible by the cooperation and support of the Freedom Borough Council during these Fifty years. We are proud of the growth of our Library and look forward to moving to a new "home" in the Municipal Building which they are planning to construct on Third Avenue - between Ninth and Tenth Streets.
"Through good books our eyes are open to the world." (C. Kingsley). Your Library gives you the opportunity to explore the beauties of the world, to travel to unknown places and to escape the fast pace of today's life - by reading.
The Committee thanks all those who helped
in any way to make this History possible. We have recorded the
facts as accurately as we could; if we have made any errors, please
accept our apologies.
Ruth McAllister, Chairman
Wahneta Hough
Louise Dematteis
Rocco Bovalino