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Wednesday, January 08, 2003

By Ann Belser and Maria Carpico, Post-Gazette Staff Writers

The people of Indiana Township may not be able to use Allegheny County's bookmobile this year.

The township is one of a number of north suburban communities that previously hosted the bookmobile, a converted bus that would roll in loaded with books to loan. But the bookmobile budget was squeezed when Allegheny County reduced the funding, which had been $700,000.

This year, there is $500,000 for the bookmobile program and to make up part of that, municipalities were asked to chip in $8,000 a year if they wanted an hour-long stop each week.

The Indiana supervisors haven't said "no" yet, but they haven't said "yes," either, according to township Manager Dan Anderson said.

The township is planning to renovate the former Rural Ridge Elementary School into a combination library, community center and senior citizen center. Doing so could eliminate the need for the bookmobile.

"It's a significant investment with the intention that it will be partially used as a library," Anderson said. The township has budgeted $75,000 toward the project in 2003.

In the meantime, residents can use the Lauri Ann West Memorial Library in O'Hara; Indiana is boosting its contribution by $3,500 for 2003.

Millvale also declined to pay for bookmobile service this year. No one could be reached for questions on the decision.

Five other communities decided to keep the service going. But Ken Wolf, West View borough manager, said the decision there was to go forward with a one-year trial.

"We're going to try it this year and if all goes well, we'll put it before council for a vote," said Wolf.

The other four North communities paying to keep the service are Ben Avon, Marshall, Pine and Ross.

Countywide, the changes are bringing a steep drop in the service. In December, there were 22 regular bookmobile stops on two routes. There were three bookmobiles to cover those routes, a necessity because one of the three was, as Marilyn Jenkins, executive director of the Allegheny County Library Association, described it, "temperamental."

"Pittsburgh is hard on bookmobiles. It's hard to get up and down those hills and around those corners," Jenkins said.

The bookmobile will add a stop in South Allegheny School District. Jenkins said Glassport, Liberty and Port Vue are cooperating to bring the bookmobile to that district.

There will also be stops in Kennedy and Robinson, along with the five north suburban stops. All will be served on one route, with the two bookmobiles covering it, one as a backup.

The cut of 11 stops means that besides Indiana Township and Millvale, East McKeesport, West Mifflin, Wilkins and Wilmerding are now completely without library service.

Instead of paying for the bookmobile, Wilmerding council created a new library board to come up with the best solution for the borough.

"That doesn't mean it will be a bricks-and-mortar structure," said Bradley Burger, a councilman who spent nearly every Monday at the bookmobile with his children.

But Burger said he realized there needed to be a group of people who could sit down and take a long look a the library needs of the community.

"It's such an important issue to our community," he said.

In Wilkins, Commissioner John Hanlon said the township decided not to pay the $8,000 because others besides township residents used the bookmobile when it stopped at Penn Center.

"Our budget's kind of tight," Hanlon said.

He said residents who want to use a library will have to go to Forest Hills, Penn Hills, Monroeville or Edgewood.

In East McKeesport, the borough council has talked about forming a library committee, but so far has not taken the steps to do so, said borough secretary Connie Rosenbayger.

In addition to the general circulation bookmobile, the Allegheny County Library Association also has a bookmobile specifically for preschoolers and another for senior citizens. The bookmobile for older adults is wheelchair accessible and sponsored by Citizens Bank. That bookmobile has a larger library of books on tape, large print books and medical literature than the other bookmobiles.