Library director says goodbye to Brownsville
Frances Borsodi Zajac/For the Observer-Reporter
Emma Beaver is leaving her position as library director at Brownsville Free Public Library, a job she’s held since June 2016.
Frances Borsodi Zajac/For the Observer-Reporter
In between the hugs and tears as she said goodbye to patrons, Emma Beaver, left, stands ready to break into a smile on one of her last days as library director for Brownsville Free Public Library while library clerk Lori Barron shares a laugh. Beaver is taking a job as library director at Murrysville Community Library in Westmoreland County. Kristina Haluska, library board president, said, “While we will miss her in Brownsville, we wish her nothing but success in her new position.’’
Frances Borsodi Zajac/For the Observer-Reporter
Emma Beaver says goodbye on one of her last days as library director for Brownsville Free Public Library. Beaver is taking a job as library director at Murrysville Community Library in Westmoreland County.
Frances Borsodi Zajac/For the Observer-Reporter
It’s all smiles as Jane Diethorn, left, Emma Beaver, center, and Lori Barron, right, pose for a photo at Brownsville Free Public Library on one of Beaver’s last days as library director.
Frances Borsodi Zajac/For the Observer-Reporter
Emma Beaver spent her last days at Brownsville Free Public Library giving out hugs and wiping away tears as she said goodbye to patrons she’s come to know since becoming library director in June 2016.
BROWNSVILLE – Emma Beaver spent her last days at Brownsville Free Public Library giving out hugs and wiping away tears.
“Everyone has been so supportive,” said Beaver, who’s been Brownsville’s library director since 2016 and just Monday began the same position at Murrysville Community Library. “It’s been a hard decision to leave the community and the people in it. They have come to mean so very much to me.”
Brownsville is also sad to see Beaver leave.
“Emma was a wonderful director and librarian,” said Kristina Haluska, library board president. “She helped to create connections within the community by working with our borough, chamber of commerce, school district and numerous people and organizations. She was instrumental in making the public aware of the library’s financial plight this past year, and we are so fortunate for the time that she spent as our director. While we will miss her in Brownsville, we wish her nothing but success in her new position.”
A native of Clymer, Indiana County, Beaver lives in Uniontown with her husband, Brandon Beaver, a casino compliance supervisor for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in acting at West Virginia University in 2008 before deciding on a career change.
“I was living in New York City, doing the struggling actor bit, and I realized I wasn’t feeling fulfilled,” she said. “I knew I wanted to make an impact in the world and leave it a better place. The only way I knew was through libraries.”
Beaver noted her parents instilled in her a love of reading and lifelong learning, and said her elementary librarian, Betty Horn, made a lasting impact on her life.
So she returned to southwestern Pennsylvania, earning a master’s degree in library science from Clarion State University, taking classes online while working full-time bartending and waiting tables. She also worked part time at Uniontown Public Library and completed an internship at West Virginia and Regional History Center in Morgantown.
Beaver interviewed for the Brownsville job two days after graduating from Clarion in May 2016 and started work the next month at the library, located at 100 Seneca St.
Founded 91 years ago, the library serves 15,000 people in seven municipalities. It is part of the Fayette County Library System and the WAGGIN Network, a group of libraries in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties that share resources.
“My big goals were to increase programming, increase our presence in the school district and I wanted to make our area’s workforce a priority: lowering unemployment by helping young people and adults who wanted to get back into the workforce have the tools to do so,” said Beaver. “I wanted us to have a much stronger presence in our community, and I wanted to try to find sustainable funding for the library. I don’t think it’s fair to Brownsville and the surrounding communities to have a library always in crisis. Our time is better spent in service.”
Of these goals, Beaver said, “I think we accomplished many of them or at least, the library is on the path. Community support has been outstanding and overwhelmingly positive. They’ve been supportive through fundraisers, donations, being active in the library and participating in programming.”
Programs included hosting a community party in August 2017 in nearby Snowdon Square as the nation celebrated the first coast-to-coast eclipse in nearly a century and a free Adulting 101 class for teenagers and young adults in 2018 that taught life lessons such as how to open a bank account, find an apartment and basic car care.
‘We had feedback from adults who were hoping we’d do one for them, including gearing up for retirement,” said Beaver.
This in addition to a schedule for youths that includes storytime, a Summer Quest program and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) events.
Adult programming includes computer courses and partnering with CareerLink for resume workshops and career counseling. The library promoted free online courses that range from workforce development to personal enrichment available through WAGGIN, the access network available to all library users in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.
Financially, Brownsville library has struggled with sustainable funding and was in danger of closing for 2019.
“The library has been traditionally underfunded for 91 years,” Beaver said.
According to the Pennsylvania State Public Library Code, libraries must be funded locally at $5 per capita to receive state aid, although Brownsville only receives local funding of $2.78 per capita.
“The state is not penalizing us for that because they realize Brownsville is a community in crisis,” Beaver said. “Although we’ve been underfunded, we’ve been getting by on endowments, trusts and large monetary gifts that go to cover the cost of business. If it wasn’t for the large gifts, we wouldn’t be around. A lot of libraries in our area are underfunded, and that’s how they survive.”
The library is staying open but recently closed for several weeks after a December water-line break flooded the front half of the first floor and a children’s activity room, patron restroom and part of the storage area downstairs.
The library reopened Jan. 3 while some issues are waiting to be resolved.
The re-opening allowed Beaver an opportunity to say goodbye to friends in the community, such as Earl Smith, of Brownsville, a library patron and postal worker who delivers the library’s mail.
“This town is definitely losing someone special,” said Smith.”One word she’s taught me over the years is empathy. She’s taught me to become a better person.”
Lori Barron, of Daisytown, and Jane Diethorn, of Coal Center, library clerks who will operate the library while the board conducts a search for a new director, both enjoyed working with Beaver.
“She’s always a bright spot no matter what’s going on and everyone is drawn to her,” Barron said. “She’s an exceptional person and this whole town will feel her absence.”
“Emma is extremely dedicated to Brownsville. She’s wonderful to us. She cares about us – not just as workers but as human beings,” Diethorn added. “Emma set out to change the world and she’s made a difference in Brownsville.”
“The library is in incredible and capable hands” Beaver said of Diethorn and Barron. “They’re absolutely amazing workers and human beings. It’s a treasure to work with them and get to know them on a personal level.”
Beaver remains happy with her career change. She believes libraries are important.
“Whether it’s a book or a program or an online resource, we’re offering free resources to enrich your life,” said Beaver. “My mentor taught me that among the many useful and wonderful things a library offers is that the library is different for everyone. It’s whatever you need it to be. We don’t have all the answers but we will get you there and we will help you find whatever answers or resources you need.”
She added, “I feel that librarians get to be the voice of change. We’re here to help people better their lives, whatever it means to them. And we fight censorship and we’re all about free and equal access to information. How cool is that?”