Blawnox church to host Cooper-Siegel Community Library meeting about potential services

Cooper-Siegel Community Library officials want to hear from Blawnox residents about potential services they would like in the borough.

A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Hoboken Presbyterian Church, 921 North Ave.

“We have noticed over the years that not many Blawnox residents participate in our programs,” said library Executive Director Jill McConnell. “We are interested in finding out why that is and what we can do to better serve them.”

Only 2% of the estimated 1,800 people who registered for library programs, or gave their information the day of the activity, reported living in Blawnox, according to a 2021 library report.

McConnell said the numbers were based on what data the library could collect, and some programs don’t require registration.

Library officials hope to find out what’s preventing more Blawnox residents and business owners from visiting the facility and to raise awareness of its offerings.

“It’s more of a fact-finding meeting for us to help improve our services to that particular community in our service area,” McConnell said.

One outcome of the meeting may be to set up some form of an outreach program in Blawnox.

The executive director ruled out building a library branch like the Sharpsburg Community Library in Sharpsburg.

Blawnox Councilwoman Katie Specht-Coban said she hopes a lot of residents attend the meeting.

“It’s very important,” she said. “I think bringing it to the local church like that is going to be wonderful because there are a lot of people who need the library. … It’s a wonderful library. To bring it into town like that is going to be great because knowledge is the key.”

Council Vice President Randall Stoddard agreed.

“The library is a terrific asset with programs and resources beyond books,” he said. “I would encourage people to go to the meeting.”

About the library

The library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Road in Fox Chapel. It serves the communities in the Fox Chapel Area School District.

Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

It is also open 1-5 p.m. Sundays from September through May.

More information is available at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org.