The three Greater Pittston libraries are teaming up for joint projects to benefit the entire community.

The Pittston Memorial Library, West Pittston Library and Wyoming Free Library will combine efforts this year for two projects — Amnesty Week and Little Miss and Mister Library.

Amnesty Week

Amnesty Week runs from Monday, April 11 until Saturday, April 16 during National Libraries Week and Wyoming Free Library Director John Roberts said it’s a way for patrons to do a good deed while getting any fines they may have reduced.

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This is the first time the three libraries are working together during Amnesty Week.

“Patrons can bring in a non-perishable item and if they have something overdue they can bring that with them in addition to the item and have fines forgiven,” he said. “If someone had something that was overdue last year, we wouldn’t be able to forgive those fines…”

Patrons will get $1 off fines for every non-perishable item, so if someone brings in 25 items, they will have $25 worth of fines forgiven.

All food collected will be donated to the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.

Roberts said if the book is damaged, the library can’t recover the damages and fines will not be forgiven.

Little Miss, Mister contest

At the end of April, a Little Miss and Mister Library to represent all three libraries.

Children ages 7 to 10 who are members of any of the three libraries can submit essays about what they like about their library.

Essays are due Saturday, April 23 and winners will be announced Monday, April 25.

Winners will participate in the West Pittston Cherry Blossom Parade in late April, the Wyoming Borough Memorial Day Parade in May and the Pittston Tomato Festival Parade in August.

Working together

According to West Pittston Library Director Anne Bramblett Barr this marks the third year the three libraries have collaborated on projects.

“It started with me, John from Wyoming and then (former Pittston Memorial Library Director) Anne Hogya from Pittston, and with Patricia (Joyce) being the new director she’s been working with us as well,” Barr said. “We also have board mixers where we get our three board groups together at the Tomato Bar and the board members meet each other. It’s interesting because members know each other, but didn’t realize they served on boards.”

Barr said the three library directors keep in constant communication through emails, phone calls and meet every couple of months to discuss joint programs.

“I really like the technology classes we collaborate on,” she said. “It makes sense that if one library already has a class they have materials for, they can reach out to other libraries so they’re not duplicating programs. We have social media for seniors and I think that’s something we could do and we can share it with the other libraries.”

Joyce was named director of the Pittston Memorial Library last September. She said Roberts and Barr have been excellent help to her and that the three libraries working together is a terrific idea.

“I think it’s great to show our communities that we do work together because we are part of the Luzerne County Library System and the comradery is really nice,” she said. “John and Anne were very positive in that we all have the same goal about the libraries, and how we cans service our community because a lot of our patrons visit all three.”

Roberts said the group continues to seek new ways to work together.

“We’re always looking for things to do,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll have great ideas for 2017.”

Stacks of books sit in the Wyoming Free Library. Patrons can bring in nonperishable food items to either of the three Greater Pittston libraries during Amnesty Week, which runs Monday, April 11 to Saturday, April 16 will get $1 off any fines they may owe for each item they bring in.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Joint-Libraries-2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgStacks of books sit in the Wyoming Free Library. Patrons can bring in nonperishable food items to either of the three Greater Pittston libraries during Amnesty Week, which runs Monday, April 11 to Saturday, April 16 will get $1 off any fines they may owe for each item they bring in. Submitted photos

The Little Miss and Mister Library will once again be a collaborative effort by the three Greater Pittston Libraries. Essays for the 2016 Little Miss and Mister Library are due by Saturday, April 23 with a winner to be announced Monday, April 25. In photo, from left, first row, John Roberts, Wyoming Free Library Director. Second row, Lauren Granteed, 2014 Little Miss Library; Preston Klem, 2014 Little Miser Library. Third row, Elaine Granteed, Anne Hogya, former Pittston Memorial Library Director; Summer Belles, West Pittston Library Youth Services Coordinator and Kristine Klem.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Joint-Libraries-1.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Little Miss and Mister Library will once again be a collaborative effort by the three Greater Pittston Libraries. Essays for the 2016 Little Miss and Mister Library are due by Saturday, April 23 with a winner to be announced Monday, April 25. In photo, from left, first row, John Roberts, Wyoming Free Library Director. Second row, Lauren Granteed, 2014 Little Miss Library; Preston Klem, 2014 Little Miser Library. Third row, Elaine Granteed, Anne Hogya, former Pittston Memorial Library Director; Summer Belles, West Pittston Library Youth Services Coordinator and Kristine Klem. Submitted photos
Greater Pittston libraries combine efforts for joint projects

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher