Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, public libraries are no longer just “the place with the books.” They are job search centers, digital lifelines, early-childhood learning spaces, cooling/warming stations, and free community gathering spots. When cuts to federal social service programs have happened, it has been the libraries that help citizens to get the assistance they need to meet their basic needs like food, shelter, and even just someone to listen and help to provide the vital information needed to get them through tough times. Yet, despite all of the ways we support and strengthen our communities, libraries still struggle to maintain the funding needed to provide these necessary services.
This year, Gov. Shapiro signed a budget that held flat funding for public libraries, with a total for all 467 public libraries across the Commonwealth sitting at $75.47 million. While we are grateful for the $5 million increase received in the 2025-26 to get us to that $75.47 million, this amount was, essentially, what libraries across the Commonwealth received in 2001. Equate that to 2026 dollars, and we should be at $142 million, at least. We are not.
In Allegheny County, we are fairing better due to access to funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which generously funds libraries and library programs throughout the county in a variety of ways. Without this funding, I would worry about the fate of many of our libraries across Allegheny County. Even with RAD funding, flat state-level funding means tighter budgets for all ACLA libraries.
Librarians have become masters of doing more with less, but at some point, the cuts might be a bit more noticeable. As our state-level funding remains flat, the services and applications that our patrons have grown to love are becoming more expensive, which essentially makes flat funding feel more like a cut in funding.
So, while this year’s budget is final, it is not too early to start the fight for next year. The services that libraries provide to every citizen are too vital to let slide. Talk to your state and local legislators and let them know how important the library is to you and your families. Allegheny County libraries are here for everyone and we all need to show our support.
ACLA libraries are some of the greatest libraries I have ever worked with in all of my years in this industry. They provide educational and recreational opportunities for everyone in the county, and they do it with professionalism and kindness.
To the library employees across the county, thank you for all that you do every day to make Allegheny County libraries amazing. I appreciate all of the hard work you do and I cannot wait to see the fantastic things you all do for your libraries.
To our wonderful patrons and fellow library lovers, thank you for supporting Allegheny County libraries. Please keep spreading the word about how important your library is to you and your family and let our legislators know that libraries need to be funded appropriately in order to meet the needs of our communities.
