Holt Memorial Library: A Community Hub for Learning & Literacy 📚

Philip Rossi
Apr 14
3 min read

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For over 85 years, Holt Memorial Library has been an essential part of the Philipsburg community, providing free access to books, technology, and educational programs. As a branch of the Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Holt Memorial Library is more than just a place to check out books—it’s a community resource that fosters lifelong learning, connectivity, and engagement.

📖 More Than Just Books

Located at 17 N. Front Street, Holt Memorial Library offers a wide range of free services to the community, including:

✅ Book & digital media lending

✅ Free Wi-Fi & internet access

✅ Printing, scanning, and fax services (for a small fee)

✅ Educational programs for all ages

With a library card, patrons gain access to an extensive collection of print and digital resources, making knowledge easily available to everyone.

⭐ A Gold Star Library

Holt Memorial Library has been recognized as a Gold Star Library, an honor awarded through the Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward initiative. This designation reflects the library’s high-quality literacy programming across five key areas:

📚 Basic Literacy

🔍 Information Literacy

🏛️ Civic & Social Literacy

🩺 Health Literacy

💰 Financial Literacy

Each year, the library develops and submits programs that align with these literacies, ensuring that community members receive valuable, educational experiences.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Family Place Library: Supporting Early Childhood Learning

Holt Memorial Library is proud to be a Family Place Library, offering resources and programs designed to support families with young children.

✨ What A Family Place Library Offers:

📍 A welcoming space for families with young children that is always open during library hours.

📖 A five-week Parent/Child Workshop program series for toddlers, parents, and caregivers—launching in Fall 2025.

🧸 A curated collection of books, toys, music, and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, parents, and service providers.

🤝 Services developed in partnership with community organizations, ensuring outreach to new and underserved families.

🎭 Specialized programs beyond traditional storytimes, designed specifically for parents and very young children.

👩‍🏫 Librarians specially trained in child development and family support to assist families on their learning journey.

This initiative reinforces the library’s commitment to early childhood literacy and family engagement, making Holt Memorial Library an invaluable resource for local parents and caregivers.

🎉 Community Involvement & Events

Holt Memorial Library isn’t just about quiet reading—it’s a vibrant part of the Philipsburg community! The library partners with local organizations to provide outreach services and special events that bring people together.

One of the most anticipated events is the annual Touch-a-Truck event in June, which serves as the kickoff for the Summer Library Pursuit—an exciting summer program that combines learning and fun for all ages.

The library also hosts regular activities, including:

📆 Knit Wits (1st & 3rd Monday, 5:30-7 PM) – A knitting group for adults & teens.

♟️ Chess Club (2nd & 3rd Monday, 5:30-7 PM) – Open to adult and teen players.

🐣 Mother Goose on the Loose (1st Saturday, 11 AM) – A fun program for little ones.

📚 Preschool Storytime (Wednesdays, 10:30 AM) – Encouraging early literacy.

🎨 Kids Connect (Thursdays, 6 PM) – Creative activities for children.

📖 Book Bingo (3rd Saturday, 11 AM, Sept-May) – A fun and interactive way for adults and teens to engage in reading.

☀️ Summer Library Pursuit (June 16 - Aug 2, 2025) – A summer-long program filled with activities for all ages.

🤝 Friends of Holt Memorial Library

Since 1963, the Friends of Holt Memorial Library (FHML) has been a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to supporting the library’s growth. If you’d like to help keep Holt Memorial Library thriving, consider joining or donating to the Friends group. More details can be found here: 🔗 Friends of Holt Memorial Library

📢 Looking Ahead

The library’s future goals include offering new and innovative programs to meet the evolving needs of the Philipsburg community.

“The library is an inviting and vital part of our community by providing access to technology, education, and services that enhance the quality of life for our residents,” says Branch Manager, Theresa Hutton.