PENNSYLVANIA — First Lady Lori Shapiro, Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, and Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries Susan Banks, recently toured the State Library of Pennsylvania. The visit underscored the state’s commitment to supporting local libraries, highlighted by the allocation of $70 million in new funding for the 2023-24 budget.
During their tour, the group explored the newly renovated spaces within the State Library, including the main Reading Room, the closed stacks, the Digital Collections area, the Law Library, the Rare Collections Library, and the STEMLab – a dedicated makerspace for hands-on science education for children and adults. Following the completion of these renovations, the library is set to re-open to the public on January 9, 2024.
First Lady Shapiro praised the library’s role in fostering community connections, stating, “Libraries provide valuable human connections such as safe spaces for children, classes for older adults, access to technology, and other worthwhile resources to communities across the Commonwealth.” She emphasized the State Library’s legacy of excellence and expressed anticipation for how the renovated space will enhance its mission to serve Pennsylvanians.
The 2023-24 budget earmarks $70 million for the Public Library Subsidy, a fund that directly benefits local libraries, library systems, and 29 district library centers. This investment ensures every Pennsylvanian gains access to statewide resource center libraries at the State Library of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the libraries of The Pennsylvania State University.
Secretary Mumin lauded the State Library’s central role in the state’s library network, saying, “Libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, and the State Library is the keystone of the Commonwealth.” He expressed his enthusiasm about the recent renovations, which have restored the historic library to its former glory, and is eager to welcome the public back in 2024.
The State Library of Pennsylvania serves the information needs of the state government and supports innovative library practices. As the library of record for unique collections focused on Pennsylvania, it houses more than four million print volumes, newspapers, microfilm reels, and Pennsylvania and U.S. government documents. This includes the original Assembly Collection dating from 1745 and the world’s largest collection of historic Pennsylvania newspapers.
As one of four Statewide Resource Centers in the Commonwealth, the State Library provides rapid access to the collections of other major research and academic libraries across Pennsylvania and worldwide. It also offers over 90 online databases to state employees with a library card, solidifying its position as the government’s library and a hub for research assistance and authoritative quality information.
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