{"id":14,"date":"2013-10-25T20:18:23","date_gmt":"2013-10-25T20:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2026-04-15T19:50:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:50:52","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=14","title":{"rendered":"&#8211; Library Info"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Our Mission<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Mary S. Biesecker Public Library is the friendly, convenient connection between our community and the resources it needs for lifelong learning and personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Our Guiding Principles<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">We believe books are forever. We promote and maintain books as an important medium for gaining and sharing knowledge, and creating dialogue.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are a place of connection, discovery and growth for everyone. We provide the resources, technology and programs that make new ideas familiar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We welcome children and families, aiming to instill a love of reading as young as possible. We are a safe and welcoming place for children to become lifelong learners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We bridge the past and the future. History is preserved at the library, while preparing our community to understand and embrace changes in technology and society.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We believe in service and stewardship. We\u2019ve been entrusted with public and private funds, we understand the needs and interests of our community and use those gifts to provide exceptional service, resources and programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Brief History<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-1461 size-medium\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-258x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mary S. Biesecker Portrait\" class=\"wp-image-1461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-881x1024.jpg 881w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-624x725.jpg 624w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-768x893.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-1321x1536.jpg 1321w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281-1762x2048.jpg 1762w, https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IMG_0342-e1646256285281.jpg 1909w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 258px) 100vw, 258px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is a portrait of Mary Scull Biesecker (b.1862-1917) by Anna Milo Upjohn, which hangs in main room of the library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1914 the&nbsp;Somerset Public Library was started by nearly 100 local residents who wanted to share their love of reading with the local community. In 1943, after spending its first three decades at different locations across town, the library&nbsp;moved to its present location at 230 S. Rosina Ave. in Somerset, PA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The library was renamed The Mary S. Biesecker Public Library after Mary Scull Biesecker, a local philanthropist involved in the establishment of the library. Her husband, Frederick Biesecker, was a prominent local attorney, politician and businessman. <strong>Learn more<\/strong> about the library&#8217;s history <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=11709\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=11709\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The library continues its founders&#8217; tradition with a collection of over 20,000 items including books, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=977\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=977\">e-Books<\/a>, DVDs, audiobooks, and periodicals.&nbsp; We also have modern electronic resources including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=1457\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/?page_id=1457\">public computers, wireless printing, and fast WiFi <\/a>throughout the library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are a public library, supported by state and local funding, corporate and private donations and small fee services within the library. &nbsp;We are members of Access PA System, American Library Association, Pennsylvania Library Association, and the Cambria County District Library System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Personnel Information<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>Library Director<\/b><\/span>: Lee Ann Schrock<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>Library Aide<\/b><\/span>: JoAnn Critchfield<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>IT &amp; Facilities Coordinator:&nbsp;<\/b><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Morgan Simmons <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Communications Assistant: <\/strong><\/span>Christopher Saunders<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Library Clerk: <\/strong><\/span>Cathy Johnson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-de3038855b633f95e3eebb35aa92a9d8 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#020202\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>Volunteers<\/b><\/span>: Helen Skalski, Mike Cascio<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>Board of Directors<\/b><\/span>: &nbsp;Mr. Matt Deal \u2013 President, Megan E. Will &#8211; Vice President, Mr. G. Henry Cook \u2013 Secretary, Mrs. Kathy Brant Lioi, Mrs. Sheena Mandichak, and Mrs. Sarah Pile.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\">We are a PA Forward Star Library Partner<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.paforward.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"90\" src=\"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Star_Library_opt.jpg\" alt=\"PA Forward logo\" class=\"wp-image-4455\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Libraries are no longer just buildings that house books. Today\u2019s libraries are agile institutions serving real-life needs. They hold the key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in Pennsylvania by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy. The PA Forward Star Library Program showcases and recognizes libraries that incorporate PA Forward and the five key literacies into their programming activities, displays and events. Read more about the partnership on&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.paforward.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.paforward.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Mission The Mary S. Biesecker Public Library is the friendly, convenient connection between our community and the resources it needs for lifelong learning and personal growth. Our Guiding Principles Brief History In 1914 the&nbsp;Somerset Public Library was started by nearly 100 local residents who wanted to share their love of reading with the local [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14532,"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/14532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maryslibrary.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}