Westminster College plans to increase library public services with the $100,000 grant presented by Senator Rick Santorum.

"This grant will help Westminster College serve the community by installing an automated library server system and 25 computers," according to Westminster College President R. Thomas Williamson.  "Our area residents have enjoyed the community bookshelf, children's collection, artifacts, and research capabilities of McGill Library for decades.  Thanks to Senator Santorum's efforts, Westminster can now be an even better neighbor and partner for progress."

"New Wilmington never had a public library, so we welcome town users," said Molly Spinney, head librarian and associate professor at Westminster College.  "The community bookshelf has increased from two shelves when it was established by the town in 1976 to 30 now.  It's full of best sellers of popular fiction that many of our town residents read."

"Currently there are over 125 town cards in use, and they have access to everything we have," said Yvonne Ayers, circulation assistant at McGill Library.  "The children's library is used frequently by grandmothers and grandfathers who bring their grandchildren to read them a story.  We even have Amish teachers who stop by and use our material for their work."

"We have some people who stop in every day just to read the newspapers," Spinney said.  "Others come in every week or two to use Value Line, a reference tool for investments in the stock market."

The Westminster College libraries are also used by the significant retirement community in New Wilmington.

"We've seen an increase in the number of seniors citizens using the library with the opening of Shenango on the Green," Spinney continued.  "We also get people from Beechwood Commons."

"It's a big selling point for us," said Betty Jones, director of marketing at Shenango on the Green.  "Our residents are educated active seniors.  When we tell them about the beautiful library right across the street where they can walk, well, they love having that at their fingertips.  We have three or four librarians and a great many educators who live here, and over one third have college degrees, so it's an important resource for them." 

The Westminster College libraries reach out to local schools in a number of ways.

"One teacher brings her junior and senior English classes every year," said Jeanne Ball, reference librarian.

"My daughter's teacher, Mrs. Jan Imbornone, brings her advanced placement English class to McGill on Sundays to review for the exam," said Mary McCoy, visiting lecturer of education at Westminster.  "My daughter Lindsay, who is a senior at Wilmington High School, practically lived at McGill while working on her research paper on Shakespeare's plays."

"Wilmington High School and Middle School can search our catalog from their schools because they are directly connected," said Spinney.  "They know before they come where to get what they need."

"Our preschool has one official visit per year, where I tell the children about the rules of the library.  They especially like the rule about us not wanting them to put their books away," said Spinney.  "Their teacher and I read a story to them, but it doesn't end there.  It's a place that is always open to children, and I see many parents bringing them back."

Shenango and Neshannock schools, as well as the Butler County Community College also use Westminster's research facilities.

"We also offer a teacher workshop," said Spinney.  "We teach how to search, what resources on the Internet have been reviewed by librarians and are legitimate, and how to evaluate a site to get reliable information."

The Westminster College libraries promote reading through community programs such as the Summer Reading Program and the Kappa Delta Pi Reading is Fun Program.

"In the past we have had about 20 area elementary and middle school students spend two hours each weekday in the library as part of the month-long Summer Reading Program," said Dr. Charlene Klassen-Endrizzi, associate professor of education and head of the program.  "Their parents gathered there each Monday morning for a two-hour group workshop."

"Each spring our education honor society, Kappa Delta Pi, sponsors 'Reading is Fun,'" said Dr. Linda Domanski, assistant professor of education and advisor of the group.  "It's an open invitation to parents to bring their young children to hear a story one Sunday afternoon."

The Westminster College libraries are supported by the local community, too.

"Friends and alumni have given us an extensive artifacts collection, including the Egyptian mummy," said Spinney.  "Willis McGill brings people in all the time to view our collection, and our nursery school comes at least once a year to see them."

"This artifact collection is just one way this library is supported," continued Spinney.  "Cora Durast, the owner of the Tavern, gave money for the children's library.  The town donated $500 to start the community bookshelf, and now it's one of the fastest growing areas of the library.  We've also had people remember us in their wills."

"During the Arts Festival last August, there was an art show in McGill Library," said Spinney.  "Local artists found our library an excellent place to display their talent.  The library will serve as a display case for their exhibition this summer, too.  It's just one of the many ways we serve the community."

For more information, contact Spinney at (724) 946-7323 or e-mail mspinney@westminster.edu.

Preschool Parents Quotes

We like the library because it has such a diverse collection of books, stories from Africa, Asia, and other countries.  It's a great collection, and it opens up a new world to our daughter.  We can spend over an hour reading together there.

Stephanie Corrette-Bennett, Preschool Parent

I enjoy going to the library with both my 11 year old and my 6 year old.  There are high quality books for all ages there, and we appreciate the diversity of titles.  My children spend a great deal of time in the summer poring over their library books.

Mandy Medvin, Preschool Parent and Director, Preschool Lab

My preschooler, Eliana, understands that a trip to the Westminster Library is one of the great adventures of her young life.  We take that adventure regularly.

David Swerdlow, Preschool Parent

Part of the role of the preschool is to expand children's vocabulary, literacy awareness, and understanding of their 'world'.  The children's library provides us with resources to increase our preschoolers' knowledge about far away people and places, appreciate art through picture books, begin to understand others' perspectives, and enhance the children's creativity and imagination by listening to high quality literature.  More people should know about and use the library.

Mandy Medvin, Director, Preschool Lab

Board Chairman George R. Berlin, Westminster College President R. Thomas Williamson, & Senator Rick Santorum

McGill Library