Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library

Quickly now! Why did the small town library close?
Someone borrowed the book!
–rim shot–
Yeah, it’s an old joke and definitely not an accurate description. Truth is, I love books and libraries. I get it from my mother who’s been a school lbirarian for close to forty years. The Priestley-​Forsyth Memorial Library my be small in size but it’s not small in caliber. The library offers literature and programs for people of all ages. Right now they’ve got a summertime reading program going on for kids. For adults they offer a whole bunch of other services. Want to join a book club? They’ve got one and you can have a small portion of a book e-​mailed to you every day. That way you can decide if you want to check it out. Need help finding a job? They are a part of the Pennsylvania CareerLink Participating Agency and they have free help and tutorial services available. Are you a teacher? The Library has a collection just for teachers. They’ve also got «Story Bags” – themed collections designed for group use by elementary teachers, reading teachers, etc. Are you a new parent? They’ve got parenting books and DVDs on all sorts of child rearing topics.
Pretty impressive huh?
O’ but there’s more than that. The building has a very colorful history too. It was built circa 1825 and it was orignally a a tavern and stage coach stop. Known as the Cross Keys Inn, travelers could stop on their way to Scranton or Erie and have a hot meal, a pint of ale, or even a bed for the night. Joseph Priestley’s great-​grandson purchased the building in 1864 and he converted it into his home and medical practice. In 1924 Mrs. Frances Priestley-​Forsyth donated the house for use as a public library. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Priestley-​Forsyth Memorial Library is a part of Access PA, which allows cardholders to borrow from most public libraries in the Commonwealth. Think I could use my Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh card here?