Friends of the Schlow Centre Region Library

By: Harry Zimbler

Behind-the-scene efforts that ensure the future vitality of Schlow Centre Region Library

"It is important for me to give back to an institution that was, and is, an integral part of our family life and the life of the State College community." – Christine Lichtig, president, Friends of the Schlow Centre Regoin Library

For more than five decades the Friends of the Schlow Centre Region Library have been helping to ensure the health and vitality of one of the region’s cultural treasures. In a community that places a high value on education and lifelong learning, Schlow is an anchor institution that continues to serve the community in many wonderful ways.

With more than 400 members, the Friends’ mission is quite simple: To support the library financially and in every other way that is necessary to ensure its future.

“The Friends of the Schlow Centre Region Library have provided funding for many things including materials, computers, the building fund, programs, receptions and more,” says Betsy Allen, director. “In the past year, the Friends provided around $30,000 in support.”

Allen noted that one highly successful program sponsored by the Friends in 2009 was the children’s program that encouraged summer reading. “We received about $7,000 to give a book bag to every child in State College elementary schools,” she said. “Giving a child something to take home helps promote reading.”

Friends’ board president Christine Lichtig—like most of the members—has a very personal commitment to the organization.

“My family has been part of the Schlow Centre Region Library family for many years,” she explains. “When I was raising my children in the early 1980s, we visited the library at least once a week for our books and library activities. It is important for me to give back to an institution that was, and is, an integral part of our family life and the life of the State College community.”

Board member Katie O’Toole has also been involved with Friends for many years.

“I thought that serving on the Friends board was a way to show my appreciation for all the reading pleasure and other benefits Schlow has provided me and my family over the years,” she explains. “The Friends board is important because it supports one of the most important institutions in our community.”

“It is important that our community has access to the many resources available at the library,” adds Judy Lang, another board member. “My grandfather, Charles Schlow, felt that everyone, everywhere, deserves the chance to simply read and learn. I know he would be proud of what the library has become.”

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to list all of the Friends’ achievements. Still, naming a few offers a portrait of this important group.

“The Friends won the Newsletter of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries. It was for leadership in support of libraries,” Allen says. “They also won the State College Borough Legacy Award.”
“As a board, we are aware of the precarious nature of library funding,” adds Lichtig. “In addition to helping with the purchase of new books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, downloadable books and magazine subscriptions, we support the library in many other ways. People join Friends of Schlow because they recognize the need for a group to ensure that the library will be able to continue its level of service to our community.”

Most citizens do not know that the idea for First Thursday events that take place in downtown State College came from the Friends of Schlow Centre Region Library. The board member who demonstrated leadership on that accomplishment was O’Toole.

“First Thursday is a celebration of the arts that takes place at venues throughout the downtown on the first Thursday of each month,” says O’Toole. “The Friends have put together a variety of wonderful programs—music, song, dance, author talks and more. These are all free to the public. In bad economic times such as the one we find ourselves in now, entertainment is often the first thing to be axed from the family budget. So it’s great that the Friends can help to provide quality, live entertainment, for free and on a regular basis.”

“The group has made huge strides in the general awareness of library services,” says Lang. “The Friends’ success in helping to raise funds that continue to support the many programs at the library is also a great achievement.”

The Friends of Schlow Centre Region Library advocate for support, as well.

“Visits to legislators, letter writing and phone calls to government officials by our members have helped secure library funding,” adds Lichtig. “The current board looks to secure the future of the library for generations to come.”  • SCM