230 S. Rosina Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501 • (814) 445-4011
About MSBPL
The Mary S. Biesecker Public Library was incorporated in 1914 and moved to its present location at 230 S. Rosina Ave., Somerset, PA, in 1943. We are a public library, supported by state and local funding, corporate and private donations, and small fee services within the library. We are a member of the Access Pennsylvania System, American Library Association, Pennsylvania Library Association, and the Cambria County District Library System.
Our Mission
The Mary S. Biesecker Public Library recognizes its
responsibility to provide information and recreational materials for all the
people of the community. We are committed to the promotion of lifelong learning.
Contact Information
Library Director: Lee Ann Schrock
Library Aides: JoAnn Critchfield, Anthony Kendrick, Susan Kinsella, Pat Kuna
Volunteers: Phyllis Moore, Leon Carey, Judy Harrison, Helen Skalski
Board of Directors: James O. Courtney, Jr. - President; Dr. William
Simmons - Vice-president;
Rev. Charles Olson - Treasurer, G. Henry Cook- Secretary;
Ralph Egolf, Jr.; Mona Herrell; Marsha Dykstra
Telephone: 814-445-4011
FAX: 814-443-0725
Address: 230 S. Rosina Avenue
Somerset, PA 15501
e-mail : info@maryslibrary.com for general information, research questions, and genealogy/obituary requests
Available Materials, Services, & Fees
| Circulating Materials | Non-Circulating Materials |
| Books (Regular & Large Print) | Reference Books |
| Magazines | Newspapers |
| Audio Books | Genealogy References |
| Videos & DVD's | Microfilm |
| CD's |
Library cards are available at no charge, and are good for three years. To receive a card just complete an application and present identification (preferably a PA Drivers License or ID) with your current address on it.
All circulating material may be checked out for 2
weeks except videos & DVD's. Videos & DVD's may be checked out for 1 week. All
Videos are free! Educational DVD's are free! All other DVD's are $1.00 a week.
|
Services |
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| Interlibrary Loans | Used Book Sale |
| Reserve Materials | Memorials |
| Book Drop | Income Tax Forms |
| Photo Copier | Genealogy & Reference Research |
| Fax Machine | Public Computers* |
*Public Computer Access
Monday through Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM (9-12:45 July-September)
Computer use limited to 1 hour per day when others are waiting.
Restrictions:
Users must read the Library's Internet Policy and sign an Acceptable Use Contract. A parent or guardian must sign for a child. Users may not load software onto computers. Library policy will be enforced: violators will lose computer privileges.
Due to the danger of social networking for minors we have filtered such sites as MySpace, Facebook, & Craigslist. Sorry for the inconvenience.
| Overdue Books | .15 a day per book |
| DVD Rentals | $1.00 a week |
| Photocopies | .15 a page |
| Internet/PC Printing | .15 a page |
| Microfilm Printing | .25 a page |
| Faxing | $1.00 a page (incoming & outgoing) |
| Reference & Genealogy Research | $20.00 an hour (prorated) |
If you have lost your library books, or other library items, here is what you should do:
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Call us and tell us. Things happen. We understand that.
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We will give you two options - We can give you more time to look by renewing your books, or we can mark your books as lost.
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It isn't the end of the world if we mark your books as lost. As a matter of fact the quicker you tell us that they are lost the smaller your late fees will be.
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If you call us and we mark the items as lost we will have to charge the replacement costs of the books. If you can't afford to pay it all up front it's okay; you can pay us a little at a time. And if you show that you are in general responsible by making regular payments we will allow you to check books out again real soon!
This option is much better than the alternative. Here is what happens if you don't call us:
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After being 2 weeks overdue we send you a first notice. If you do not return your items or call us to make arrangements...
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4 to 6 weeks later we will send you a final notice. If you do not return your item or call us to make arrangements...
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4 weeks later we will attempt to call you and if that doesn't work we send you a certified letter. If we send a certified letter we must add a $15.00 processing fee to your account for the costs we will have incurred by this point. (Paper, ink, and postage are not cheap.) If you still do not return your items or call to make arrangements...
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4 weeks later we will file a complaint with the Somerset Magistrates office, and then the court will make you pay the lost book costs, late fees, and processing fee. In addition to that they will most likely fine you and charge you court costs.
It is so much easier to just call us and let us help you.