On October 8, a letter was mailed to all our PA Senators and PA Representatives and the Governor with an overdue notice for the 2025-2026 state budget. This is already impacting public libraries. 

Members can follow the link to download the full document:  Overdue letter sent to PA Legislators

Individuals are encouraged to reach out to their legislators and emphasize the importance of the state budget being completed. 

Text of the letter is here: 

October 8, 2025

Members of the Pennsylvania Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor Shapiro,

Your library account is OVERDUE!

The following library materials are OVERDUE:

2025-2026 Pennsylvania Budget, due date was June 30, 2025.

WAIT! Your ability to find the library might depend on your owning a computer or a phone, and internet, and the knowledge on how to navigate an online form – and do it without opening your personal financial information to predators and scammers!

Your local library can assist with the equipment, staff, and training you might need to complete these tasks. But, the state budget is OVERDUE, so we may not be available when you need us!

Right now, many local services have been cut due to the continuing state budget delay and federal funding cancellations and volatility. From after school programs, housing support, health services and food insecurity, libraries are often a place serving those in need when other social services aren’t available. Libraries are places for reading, learning, and preventing isolation for our residents. Libraries are seeing an INCREASE in demand for their services in this difficult economy. While serving as “second responders” to our community’s needs, the library itself is also in need!

The cumulative impact of recurring state budgets being late has required libraries to draw down any reserves in recent budget delays. The already weakened financial status of libraries is creating significant concern about the sustainability of public libraries.

We don’t want to see the loss of essential library services to any community in Pennsylvania. Thank you for doing your part to fund the public library subsidy in the state budget and share library resources with the entire community!

Questions? Please contact Christi Buker, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Library Association, christi@palibraries.org, 717-766-7663.