Robinson Township Library Celebrates Five Years

Like most 5-year olds, the Robinson Township Library has grown quite a bit since its birth.

Earlier this month, the library celebrated its five-year mark with a commuty gathering, welcoming residents to ring in the occasion and become more familiar with the township library's offerings.

According to director Sharon Helfrich it all began 15 years ago when community members began efforts to start their own library. In November of 2003, voters approved a referendum for one-tenth of a mill to be used to create and maintain a library.

“In May of 2007, a library was opened in the municipal building,” Helfrich said, “At that time, it was a unit of the Allegheny County Library Association.”

In January 2010, the Robinson Township Library became an independent library.

The library has flourished in years since its launch, Helfrinch said.

The staff has more than doubled to two full-time and eight part-time staff members. The facility is now open 54 hours each week, up from the original 38. And perhaps the most noticeable growth had been in the size.

“We were fortunate enough to gain space on the second floor here for programming space in January of 2011,” said Helfrich.

That space has allowed the library to double its line-up of community events. Currently, they offer five different story times for children per week, six monthly book discussion groups and other special programs.

The library also has two monthly programs in the community.

“We have a book club at and one at the Winery at Wilcox in Settler's Ridge. Those have been very well received – people love them,” said Helfrich.

The library’s collection has more than doubled since its beginnings, starting with approximately 8,000 titles to the current 19,000 titles.

“We want to be at 20,000 by the end of the year, but space is always a challenge,” she said. 

The library also works closely with local schools and organizations both by hosting programming at the library for children and going into the schools.

“We attend as many community programs as we can. We still are getting the word out about this wonderful resource,” said Helfrich who has been the director since September of 2010.

Joan Trautman is a board member of the library and has been a volunteer since its beginning. A retired librarian, she said she is “delighted” with the growth over the last five years.

“I am in awe of the enthusiasm of the staff and how much this library has become an integral part of our community,” she said.

Trautman said outreach programs including the off-site book discussion groups have created in awareness in the community.

“As someone who loves books so much, it is wonderful to see people of all ages come in here. And even though we still have people that come in and say, ‘I didn’t even know you were here,’ that is getting to be less and less,” she said.

Helfrich said they have made real efforts to engage children early on to create life-long readers. “We have really worked hard at catching that ‘tween’ group because we think if we can capture them at that age, we can keep them coming through their teens.”

Along those efforts, they have created a Tween Writing Group and are starting a puppet group.

The library is readying a kick-off its full-summer reading program for all ages.

“We say we are for everyone from birth to 110. But we would welcome 111 year olds as well,” she said.

Helfrich said the library has become an important part of the community, but what would like to be even more of a resource and gathering place.

“We want to be what the community needs us to be – we want everyone to know they can come here for books, discussions, crafts, programming – we want to be used,” she said.