On Tuesday, June 3, 2003, six representatives from Franklin and Fulton Counties attended the Pennsylvania Library Association's 'Library Legislative Day' in an effort to inform our local legislators what impact the proposed 50% library budget cut would have on local libraries. Rep. Patrick Fleagle, a patron of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Library in Waynesboro, took time out of his busy schedule to listen to the concerns of the library representatives and was truly empathetic. Rep. Fleagle has been very supportive of libraries in his district; most recently he helped arrange for the Fort Loudon Community Library to receive a $20,000 grant for structural improvements.

"While it is too early to tell how our involvement will impact the budget crisis, we can all be very confident that our legislators understand how the Pennsylvania library community feels," states Ricky Prado, Chambersburg District Libraries District Consultant. Over 600 library advocates attended this years Library Legislative Day, one of the largest turnouts in this events history. "The event was well organized by the folks at PaLA and that will only help us all to look more professional in the eyes of our legislators,' states Prado, "This was one positive step in the right direction. But in order to be successful in the end libraries still need patrons to write, call, fax, and e-mail their representatives to let them know how they feel."

The current version of the budget is slated to be implemented on July 1, 2003.