{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"Wayne County Libraries Rally Support Amid Funding Threats with National Campaign","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1027,"description":"In response to increasing threats to library funding, the Wayne County Library Director, Tracy Schwartz, is urging residents to “Show Up for Our Libraries,” an initiative launched by the American Library Association (ALA). The campaign encourages library supporters to advocate for essential services that libraries provide to their communities and to voice their concerns to policymakers at local, state, and national levels.Schwartz, speaking on Radio Chatskill, highlighted the importance of libraries in rural areas, especially the seven libraries in Wayne County—located in Honesdale, Hawley, Hamlin, Newfoundland, Bethany, Lakewood, and Pleasant Mount. As a collective of nonprofit organizations, these libraries offer vital services ranging from literacy programs to workforce development.The Threat of Funding CutsA significant concern for libraries, including those in Wayne County, is the potential loss of funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an agency that currently provides indirect federal funding to Pennsylvania libraries. Recent political developments have led to calls for eliminating IMLS, which could ripple down and affect libraries across the country, including local resources like online databases, interlibrary loans, and educational support services.“Without sufficient funding, many of the essential programs we offer, such as summer reading programs, internet access, veterans' telehealth support, and literacy services for individuals with visual impairments, could be at risk,” explained Schwartz. Currently, Wayne County libraries receive approximately 30% of their funding from local community support, 20% from the state, with the rest reliant on donations.Libraries as Community HubsBeyond book lending, Wayne County libraries have evolved into community hubs. Schwartz emphasized that libraries provide much more than access to reading materials—they offer spaces for technology literacy, community events, and even social...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}