COMMUNITY LIBRARY OF THE SHENANGO VALLEY
SERVING THE SHENANGO VALLEY
AMOUNT DONATED: $0
The Community Library of the Shenango Valley is a patron-focused resource center, enhancing the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds by providing outstanding materials, programs, and technology in a safe, inviting environment.
The library directly serves the communities of Sharon, Hermitage, and Farrell (31,000 people), with all residents of these municipalities eligible to receive free library cards. The library also offers services to those outside of this service area in the greater Mercer County area.
Giving Week Progress:
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $15,000
Programs Supported by Your Donations
In 2025, the Community Library of the Shenango Valley facilitated over 900 educational enrichment programs for all ages. These included book clubs, art classes, crafts, and technology assistance for adults, story times, sensory art classes, music therapy, and STEM activities for children, and the annual summer reading program for all ages. In particular, the summer reading program works to prevent summer learning loss and nurture literacy among children. The library also spearheads several outreach initiatives, including Book Buddy, which brings books and materials to local nursing homes, as well as attendance at the Hermitage Arts Festival, local kindergarten registrations, and school open houses.
In 2026, in addition to existing programs, the library is in the process of introducing a variety of new programs, including partnerships with the READ Across Mercer County initiative, family history digitization services and outreach programs at the Downtown Sharon Farmers Market and the Hermitage Night Market. Doing so allows the library to continue to grow and evolve as a cornerstone of the local community and its citizens.
Needs that Cannot beMet without Your Help
The library is always striving to advance and expand the programs and services we offer to our community; however, as basic operating costs continue to increase for essential materials, utilities, and maintenance, the library is forced to divert funds away from program expansion to cover these unavoidable overhead expenses. While the demand for educational enrichment resources is greater than ever, limited capacity currently prevents the library from meeting these community needs. Without additional support, the gap between increasing operational expenses and our ability to foster a lifelong love of learning and literacy continues to widen.
