A Penn State University of Harrisburg librarian visited Altoona Area Public Library last week to access information for her second book compiling the history of Pennsylvania libraries from the 1940s to the early 2000s.

Education and behavioral/social sciences librarian Bernadette A. Lear said there were few articles written about Pennsylvania’s libraries when she started her research about 20 years ago.

“We hunkered down and got the job done,” she said with a laugh, adding that these stories are not well known.

Following her 2021 publication of “Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public,” Lear is currently conducting multi-year research for her second book, looking into libraries with extensive documentation.

Altoona Area Public Library was one of her focus areas because it’s a district facility, meaning that Altoona Area receives extra funding to provide enhanced services to Blair, Bedford and Huntingdon counties.

She found a few notable stories about the Altoona library’s development, including a 1982 telethon that brought in over $28,000 in funds for the facility. The event was incorporated in an American Library Association publication, being nationally noticed.

Altoona was the sixth stop on Lear’s research tour, as she already visited libraries in Scranton, Montgomery County and Cumberland County.

Compiling research into a book makes it easier and more effective when tracking how libraries develop over the years with state and local funding, Lear said.

When her first book was published, she said she sent copies of her books to then-Gov. Tom Wolf and other Pennsylvania lawmakers so they understand how their policies affect libraries, as well as local politicians and library board of trustees.

She hopes that her new book will become a resource for future library research.

Jennifer Knisely, executive director of the Altoona Area Public Library, said it’s really special for Lear to conduct research at the city library.

“So often, libraries are one of the keyholders to the community’s collective history,” Knisely said, adding that the city library’s archives are organized by their archivist.

Knisely said you never know when an opportunity like this will present itself, when the city library can be involved in important research such as Lear’s upcoming book.

“For Altoona to be included is quite an honor and really special to us,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.