Jessica Cameron, Library Director
Hazel Bilka, Emeritus Director
The Mission of the Library is to provide for the educational, informational, and recreational needs of the community.
As a local community library, we strive to:
- provide popular materials of current social and cultural interest for recreational purposes.
- provide informational resources on topics related to work, school and personal life.
- be a center for life-long learning, assisting and supporting literacy for all ages, and providing help using library technology
Please see the Bellwood Antis Public Library’s Website and Facebook page for current Programs:
Supporting Bellwood-Antis Public Library is an excellent way to contribute to the quality of life in our community. Our ability to continue to provide excellent service is a tribute to the generosity and support of people like you. There are many reasons to give and several different ways to support your library. We are always willing to discuss other options so that your gift can truly reflect the spirit with which it is given.
Monetary Gifts
Your monetary gift does make a difference! Your tax deductible donations support your library today and in the future by adding to our collections of books, e-books, DVDs, audiobooks and other materials. They also can help fund special programs or improvements to the library spaces. Your donations enhance the quality library services in our community. Check out our FAQ tab for more details on donations!
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers play an important part in the success of this library. Volunteers share their unique talents, skills, and knowledge helping library staff maintain the general operations of the library. Rewarding opportunities and excellent training ensures that your volunteer experience is both enjoyable for you and helpful for the library.
Volunteering for the library can be very satisfying. You’ll benefit by:
- Working in a friendly environment
- Meeting new and interesting people
- Gaining a feeling of accomplishment for a job well done
- Learning about the library and it’s “backroom” operations
Volunteers are assigned meaningful work appropriate to their interests, skills and ability. In return, we ask that volunteers honor their commitment regarding their work and their assigned schedule, keeping a record of hours worked. Check out our FAQ tab for more details on volunteering!
Unique Ways to Support the Library
Memorial & Tribute Books
We invite you to honor family, friends and associates with a gift of books or other library materials. This is a very thoughtful and lasting way to remember and honor family and friends, and to share your gift with your community. We will send an acknowledgement letter to you and to family members notifying them of your gift.
For all memorial and tribute contributions, library staff will select a book of high quality and lasting value in the subject area of your choice. Donation form.
Buy a Book, Read a Book, Donate a Book
Choose a new Best Seller that you would like to read now! Tell the librarian you would like to buy the book at the library’s 40% discount. You get to read the book as soon as it arrives at the library. When you finish reading the book you donate it to the library, it is processed and circulates in the library collection. Your sponsorship is acknowledged with a special label inside the book. Or, if you wish, you may remain anonymous.
Sponsor a Child’s Book
Choose a child’s book for a $10 donation from a group of selected titles we have available. Honor your child with their name placed on a plate inside of that book.
Adopt a magazine
Adopt a magazine is a program where library patrons have an opportunity to sponsor the purchase of one or more of the 80 general interest magazines the Library subscribes to. Your sponsorship is acknowledged with a special label, with your name, on the front of each issue of the publication for the entire year. Or, if you wish, you may remain anonymous.
Reading Program Prizes
Reading prizes are needed for both the annual summer reading game and the Sprouting Readers programs. Your donation can play an important role in encouraging kids to read. Kids in the program earn prizes by reaching reading goals and these prizes keep interest high all summer! Donations are accepted throughout the year.
Here’s how you can help! Bring in any:
- Toys, new, for kids of all ages.
- For example: Games, Puzzles, Craft activities, Stuffed animals Never-before-used gifts (perhaps duplicate or unwanted. that your child receives for birthdays, holidays, or other occasions.)
- Coupons from local businesses for free items like ice cream or kid’s meals
- Small monetary donations we’ll use specifically for prizes
Library Circulation Policies
Current Blair County Library System (BCLS) cards can be used to order books and other materials from any library in Blair County as well as Bedford, Cambria, Huntingdon, and Lackawanna Counties. Patrons can also ask a librarian to order books via Shareit, the statewide interlibrary loan system. Interlibrary loan is free.
Borrowing Period
- Adult Library Card – 28 days
- All other library cards – 14 days
Renewals
Book may be renewed if there are no reserves on it.
Fines
- As of 2023 the Library has gone “fine free”
All library materials may be returned to any Blair County Library.
Library User Fees
- Community rooms are available for rent for $50 for up to 4 hours and $75 for up to 8 hours.
- Sending and receiving FAXES is available at 814-742-8235 for $2 for the first page and $1 for every page thereafter.
- Copy machines is $.25 a page
- Computer printouts are $.15 a page
In February, 1965 a group of citizens with a dream, met to sponsor and create a public library for their community. The group elected officers, formed committees and set out on a course of action to achieve their goal.
After much work, the Bellwood-Antis Public Library opened its doors on August 20, 1965 in the former Cook Building on Main Street, Bellwood. Once established, the new facility began to grow. Over the next several years services and programs were developed. New books, materials and equipment were purchased and the people were using it all!
In 1968 a major event was planned to raise community funds to pay off the mortgage (taken out by 8 founders of the library). There was a parade and festival and a small army of volunteers took to the street to raise the needed funds. The community responded.
Over the next several years the library continued to grow at such a pace that crowding became an issue. Board members knew that they needed to look for a new home for the library. In true central Pennsylvania fashion, these forward-looking individuals purchased the property at 526 Main Street and on August 18, 1980 the new library opened its doors.
As services and programs continued to increase additional space was needed. In 1997 an addition which doubled the current space was completed. It provided a true community center that offered 24 computers, Wi-Fi connections throughout the building, two large meeting rooms with separate entrances and a Pennsylvania History Room.
With a belief in catering to future library patrons and wanting to do more children’s programming the library added a dedicated children’s room in 2007 which created a family friendly environment that encourages visits and regular library usage by families with young children.
Currently the library is proud to offer a true community center that offers 24 computers with internet and an electronic card catalog, WiFi connections throughout the building, two large meeting rooms with separate entrances and a kitchenette. The founders would be proud!
How do I become a Volunteer?
For more information, any interested person may visit or call the library and speak to the director about volunteering. An application form is available in the library or online. Get involved and make a real difference in your library.
What do Volunteers do?
Help is needed with all kinds of tasks, some simple and some more technical. Volunteers can be found in all of the library’s departments. Opportunities include:
- helping at the circulation desk (computer experience is required)
- working “behind the scenes,” for example, getting materials ready for circulation
- pulling materials for holds, or finding items on a list for a special display
- helping keep our materials in order on the shelves
- working with patrons, from children to seniors, at special events
What Funds Your Library?
The Library is funded by Antis Township, the Borough of Bellwood and the Bellwood-Antis School District but expenses are partially offset by a Pennsylvania library aid subsidy, the Blair County Regional Asset District and revenues generated by donations and late fees. The Friends of the Bellwood-Antis Library also contribute generously to special library needs. The Library is managed by a Board of Directors, and its budget is approved every year by the members.
The Blair County Regional Asset District funds are distributed to all 8 independent libraries in the county via a distribution formula which is based on a set of factors such as population of the service district, annual circulation of the library, and local funds raised. The amount the library receives changes every year based on the prior year’s statistics. The State subsidy is dependent on allocations from the Pennsylvania Legislature in each year’s budget and is determined by the amount of money raised locally.
Why donate to your tax-supported library?
Township support of the library is outstanding; however individual support such as this helps demonstrate to our governmental funders how important the library is to you. Here is how your gift can help:
- A gift of $20 can purchase one children’s book
- A gift of $50 can provide a newspaper subscription for 3 months
- A gift of $100 can support a special children’s program
- A gift of $200 can support a special children’s or multi-generational event
Let us determine where your donation can have the greatest impact. Checks can be mailed to the library.
The Bellwood-Antis Public Library appreciates and thanks you for your support. We guarantee that your gift will be used to benefit library visitors.
For information on making gifts of stocks or bonds, corporate matching gifts, or planned giving such as wills & trusts, life insurance or life income plans, or if you have any question at all, please contact the Library director.
If you would like to speak with the Library Director directly, please call the Library during regular business hours:
Monday through Thursday – 1:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday – 9:00pm to 4:00pm
Friday & Sunday – Closed
Jessica Cameron, Library Director
526 Main Street, Bellwood, PA 16617
Phone: (814) 742-8234
Fax: (814) 742-8235
Facebook: Bellwood-Antis Public Library
The Library Board normally meets the first Monday of each month in Sheetz Room at the Library.
Advocate for your Library!!
Your personal story is worth hundreds of official library statistics.
- Who in your family uses library services?
- What services are most important to you?
- When do you use the library?
- Where would you be without libraries?
- Why do you use the library?
Your support will make a real difference in the future of all libraries.