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1968-71: Progress on library was slow

Things move very slowly and at times much too slowly. Last week, I told you about the 1968 vote for a Library Tax that was rejected. The tax would have been used to build a new, much larger library. But that didn’t happen. The overcrowded library remained at 35 South Brown Street through 1968, 1969 and 1970. It was just as overwhelming in 1971. I found photos from 1971 and I’ll post one on MCL’s Facebook page. The photo is a picture of the stairs. In the Brown Street library, the lower level was used for programming. Children walked down the stairs for story time. In ...

Homeschooling resources are available at the library

If you homeschool your children, check out all that the Juniata County Library has to offer. Request library books online: Our card catalog is available on our website. With a library card, you can request books and the library staff goes and pulls them from the shelf for you to pick up. Even when the library building is closed, the library is still available to you. Print and digital books for the classroom: Our library has tens of thousands of books, including many that are perfect for classroom use. In 2022 we purchased a fresh set of books about all 50 states in America as well ...

Story of three ministries

Mark 1:2-11 Mark 1:2-11 shows us about three ministries, how God works with ministers. First, God had a plan. I don’t say ‘God has a plan’, because God had it planned long ago. God has a big plan and a bunch of smaller plans. We see here, for example, that Isaiah described God’s plan for John’s ministry and Jesus’ ministry seven hundred years in advance. The third minister, well ... we’ll get to him in a few minutes and talk about God’s plan for him. John didn’t just fall into his ministry. God prepared the way. Luke tells us that an angel told Zechariah that John ...

God’s word is unchanging

Contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints. — Jude 1:3 If the faith or Word of God, or word about God and men, was only once delivered to the saints, then we have a small problem within many of our churches today. Some churches have taught that it is God’s will for people to attend all the stated meetings of the church. They also believe they have the right and the authority from God (through His Word) to discipline church members who do not submit to their rules and guidelines. A local church may have four services a week that the members must ...

A new year is cause for hope through God

Hello, dear friends. It feels like so long since I talked with you! Here we are, in a new year! What’s that look like for you? Have you anticipated great things or are you caught up in the chaos of the past? During this Christmas season, I had the opportunity to visit with many, to hear their stories and share in their lives. Much of what I heard was pleasant; a joy. Some, not so much. It seems at this time of year, many have soft hearts for those who they once had close communion with, and they miss those folks. Some will attempt to make things better if the relationship has been ...

Last week, we were learning about the library’s Friends group called the Friends of Reading or FOR and the 3 mill tax increase that the county commissioners placed on the November ballot for community vote. The library director, Mrs. Stuckenrath, kept copies of each letter to the editor that was published in the Sentinel in October and until the vote on Nov. 5, 1968. There were as many letters for the 3 mill tax increase as there was against. Those for the tax increase used the library heavily, read many books per year, were on a fixed-income or were not on a fixed income but ...