Community Spotlight

• Located at: 104 E. Main Street, Blain, PA 17006
• Phone: 717-536-3761
• Email: blainlibrary@centurylink.net
• Hours Tu & Th 1pm-7pm, W & F 9am-2pm, Sat 8am-2pm



• The existence of a library in western Perry County is due to the work of several dedicated women: Sue Seager, Hope Smiley, Joanna Buck, Myrtice Clouse, Lisa Head and Deb Beaston, who put the time, energy, and perseverance into creating, incorporating, and establishing the nonprofit Community Library of Western Perry County (CLWCP) in 1988. Upon the group’s first meeting they defined their goals as “encouraging reading,” providing “reference and resource[s],” and “stimulating knowledge for all ages.” The establishment of free library cards to residents of Perry County was adopted. These founders accepted a first donation from the Blain Lion’s Club and discussed fundraising and the need for housing, collections, marketing, and programing.
• More than thirty-five years have passed since CLWPC’s founding and while the world of communication and information has changed drastically, the Library’s current goals and concerns are remarkably similar to those from that initial meeting. CLWPC provides access to quality, contemporary materials, services, and programs to all Perry County residents, including Wi-Fi, desktop computing, printing, scanning, faxing, copying, general computing assistance, circulation and reference services, and inter-library loan services, provided by staff members Emily and Lori.
• Programming includes a weekly Summer Reading Program of stories, activities, and crafts relating to a different thematic topic each year and holiday programs involving seasonal stories and crafts. The 2025 Summer Reading Program topic was Camping, headlined by CLWPC Board Member Suzanne, and was extremely well attended by very engaged kids up to age 12. The Library is fortunate that Suzanne has agreed to continue to headline children’s programming for the Library. In addition, the Library is planning some partnerships with local nonprofits to extend programming, so keep your eyes open for new opportunities!

• CLWPC is grateful for its downtown Blain location, at 104 E Main Street, but space is limited. This makes collection development difficult, as only a limited selection of books can be available to patrons at any one time. The Library has put in the time to make room for your next new favorite and replace worn old favorites with new copies. In the past twelve months 1,000 new titles have been added to the collection.
• CLWPC recently was awarded a competitive grant from a national non-profit to improve its permanent collection of children’s books. The Pilcrow Foundation, based in Oregon, provides new, quality hardcover children’s books to economically distressed rural public libraries through its Children’s Book Project grants, one of two Pennsylvania libraries to receive this grant in 2025.
• Grantees have their purchasing power, up to $400, matched 3 to 1 by the generous donors of the Pilcrow Foundation. Through a community supported cake bingo event during National Library Week in April, the CLWPC Board raised the maximum. The awarded Pilcrow grant was sponsored by Ms. Catharine Maxey, of Pennsylvania. At a retail value of just over $1,200, CLWPC received 60 new hardcover books: 15 picture books, 15 juvenile fiction books, and 30 juvenile non-fiction books for elementary and middle school students.
• The Pilcrow Foundation included an additional 37 new, quality hardcover books for the library, available through their other donor-sponsored programs. Mr. Hall Berenson and Mrs. Laura Ackerman of Colorado provided more than $400 for 20 new juvenile math and science titles. Dr. Bill Strawbridge and Dr. Meg Wallhagen of California provided over $300 for 17 new health and wellness titles.

• Each of the 97 new book includes a bookplate that acknowledges these donors and the Pilcrow Foundation for their role in furthering the mission of Community Library. Fewer than 15% of these titles were previously available within the county, but now children anywhere have access to these recently published topical books through the Perry County public libraries’ shared catalog (https://pecoinfo.org) and the Capital Area Library District’s interlibrary loan system. The new books include a recent Caldecott Medal winner and multiple Ezra Jack Keats awardees, Theodor Seuss Geisel honorees, Schneider Family honorees, Robert F. Sibert honorees, and Orbis Pictus honorees. Community Library greatly appreciates the work of the Pilcrow Foundation (https://thepilcrowfoundation.org) and thanks them for their book donation!
• Funding for collections, staffing, and keeping the building operational is a constant struggle. While CLWPC receives some tax dollars from the State, unlike most Pennsylvania public libraries, Perry County’s four public libraries receive no direct funding from their county. Rather, library staff, Boards, and Friends organizations must keep the doors open and lights on by actively fundraising up to 75% of their annual expenses. This level of fundraising and soliciting is four to sixteen times the amount required by county and tax-referendum supported public libraries. The Library is grateful for all of its donors, in particular ones like the Blain Lions Club, who have supported the Library for more than thirty-five years.

• There are a lot of ways that you can support your local library. Monetary donations are always needed and welcome. Attend a library fundraising event or come to one of CLWPC’s donation-driven used book “sales.” Urge your county and township/borough government to support your local library. Come into the library and be counted as a patron; sign up for a library card, check out some books or use your card to get download magazines on your phone. Using your library is supporting your library!