The Bessemer Public Library had its beginning on September 9, 1920 at a meeting of interested patrons of Bessemer School.  Mr. P.W. Griffin appointed people to solicit members for a library association.  Some of these may be your ancestors: Prof. A. K. Thompson, Elmer B. Manewal, J.A. Johnson, Jim Shaney, M. Edna Tait and Grace M. Reed.

     At the organizational meeting of the Bessemer Public Library Association on September 16,1920, they reported $468.50 collected to start the library.  The library was born.  The following were elected as trustees: Rev. L.L. Tait, M. Edna Tait, J.A. Johnson, P.W. Griffin, C.A. Stewart, E.B. Manewal and C.F. Ball.  Do you recognize anyone? 

     In May of 1921 Miss Jane Manewal was elected as librarian at a salary of $10.00 per month.  The Library was open Monday from 7:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m. and Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.  Borrowers ten years of age and over could check out no more that two books. 

     In 1923 the voluntary support of the library by the community was supplanted by an annual one-half mill tax levy voted by the townspeople.  Names of trustees and library reports were presented to the Bessemer Borough Council for approval. 

     In 1927 Miss Mary Belle McCelland was named librarian and later Rose Landman was elected.  The adult book collection was moved to the large study hall-library room of the new addition to the high school building in 1932.  The librarians at this time were Miss Dorothy Engle and Miss Eleanor Throop.  The Community now had encyclopedias and magazines and books to use.  The children’s library was kept in the grade school building. 

     Due to increased expenses the Council granted a 3/4 mill on March 15,1938.

     Dorothy Engle or Dorothy Nord served as librarian for many years.  Mrs. Genevieve Lago was librarian when the library was moved to the elementary school building which was vacated when the new Mohawk Area Junior Senior High School was completed in the Fall of 1962.  The Library was there until the Fall of 1970 when through the efforts of the Bessemer Borough Council the office building of the late Dr.. F.D. Campbell was leased for $1.00 per year from the Bessemer Cement Co.  We still are renting from Essrock, but are in a larger building now, with larger rent payments. 

The name was changed to F.D. Campbell Memorial to honor a doctor who was so respected and admired by the people of the area.  I have only heard good things about him.  Perhaps some of you knew him.  Doctor Campbell died in 1961.  On May 22,2002 eleven members of Dr. Campbell’s family came to visit the library.  We have Dr. Campbell’s picture and the father of the group remembered “Grandpa’s” ring and chair and pipe that are shown in the picture.  I think his father had possession of the ring, so Grandpa would have probably been Dr. Campbell’s son, who would have been the children’s grandfather.   I was thrilled to have met them.

     People of the community helped move the books to the building beside the library which was Dr. Campbell’s office and in October of l970 the library opened.  Mrs. Lago still acted as librarian.  She was Janice Pelto’s mother.  Janice is a retired high school English teacher. 

     At this point The Borough Council took over the management of the library and dismissed the library board and its officers.  In the Spring of 1971 an open house was held for the newly dedicated F.D. Campbell Memorial Library.  In May Mrs. Albina Serjak became the librarian. 

     In February of 1975 the Council became concerned over rising maintenance costs and proposed closing the library.  A town meeting was called to get the reaction of the Bessemer Residents.  They reacted.  At least 50 people attended, some carrying signs.  Petitions were presented to the council with over 200 signatures demanding that the library be maintained.  The New Castle News and Youngstown Vindicator and the March Pennsylvania Library Bulletin carried the story.  Bessemer was in the news.

     As a result of the strong community support, on March 2,1975 Council appointed the following to a new library board: Eleanor Snyder, Michael Ferraro, Kenneth Gwin, James Verlotte, Janice Pelto, Dennie Mehocic, Dorothy E Nord, and Bernard Anderson.  I’m sure you recognize some of these people.  The first meeting was March of 1975 and officers were elected and May was set as library week in Bessemer.  The celebration was a huge success and funds over $l,500.00 were collected. 

     In 1976 a Friends of the Library group was formed with Angela Ferraro as president and Dolly Sheehan as vice president.  Later Dolly would be a librarian. 

          The library became eligible for state aid in 1975.  Albina Serjak served as librarian from 1970 to 1976 when Dolly took over.  During this time F.D. Campbell increased its hours with the help of two Manpower employees.  During 1977 the library was open 9:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday besides the regular library hours of Monday and Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

     Olive or Dolly Sheehan served as librarian from 1977 to 1983.  In 1983 the library moved to its present building.  This was a much needed move.  It had outgrown the smaller building.  Two rooms were named for Dorothy Nord and Eleanor Snyder for their faithful service volunteering or working for the library.  The Dorothy E. Nord Children’s Room has the Easy books and the Eleanor T. Snyder Reading Room has the periodicals, paperbacks and the Young Adult collection. 

     Timmy Cost, Olive’s daughter served as librarian for a year from 1984 to 1985 when Hazel Andrushchenko became librarian. 

     In 1990 the library board petitioned the Bessemer Borough Council for an additional one half mill.  This request was put for a vote and was overwhelming passed by the citizens of Bessemer. 

     I took the job in 1990 when Hazel decided to spend more time with her family.  By then we had gotten a computer to request interlibrary loans through Pennsylvania Access.  Now Pa Access is on the Web and we have  computers to use to get on the Internet at the library. 

     The library building also has a rich history.  It was the Belco Hotel and was a 3 story building with a lovely front porch in the early 1900's.  Belco stood for Bessemer Limestone Company.  I have a postcard that someone gave to me and a picture of the present library.

 The main room of the library was the dining room of the hotel.  My back room housed the kitchen and the back stairs are behind the library desk.  Of course they go nowhere.  The Dorothy Nord Children’s Room was the lobby.  The Eleanor T. Snyder Reading Room was another sitting room.  Before the building became a library the Bessemer Cement Company had used the rooms for offices so partitions were built and the spacing was changed.  The old tin ceiling is still there and the fireplace, although blocked up is in the Dorothy Nord Children’s Room.   

     And the history continues.  Now we are part of the LCFLS linking the 3 libraries of Lawrence County.  This means that with a card from any of the 3 libraries, you can take out books from any of the three. Each library will need to make you a card but your membership is valid.  Each library was assigned a unique number in the circulation system, so we are separate but connected. There is a standard card for the system, but I will talk more about it later.   In 1999 Ellwood City Library and F.D. Campbell became automated and bar coded . When I talk about automation I mean the book records, member records and borrowing records are on computer.  No more stamping due cards, no more card catalog and you have a plastic library card  with your name on it to use to check out books.  Of course everyone will get training on how to use the online public access catalog which is a fancy name for a card catalog on computer.

     The LCFLS also means, we have a uniform circulation system so that any library can pull up records from the other two and their members can borrow or reserve books from any other.   The Lawrence County Federated Library system was formally formed in 1998 and soon we will be celebrating out fifth year. I plan to celebrate next June, June 4, to be exact.

      Other things that changed that effect members are: An increase in hours open to better serve our members.  An increased lending time of 3 weeks instead of 2.

You have a bar coded card that can be machine read.  Fines are ten cents per day and therefore 60 cents per week since this is what both New Castle  and Ellwood City Libraries charge.

      We are trying to reach residents who have no opportunity to get to a library.  We are trying to increase technological literacy of County residents by providing computers for public use on the Internet or for computer programs.  Membership is free for all county residents.

     FD Campbell has 3 computers for members use to replace the card catalog or get online or use computer programs.  We have an iMac in the easy room for the children to play games on.  Discs and printouts are a nominal fee.  If you need help, it is available, or you could just ask a child.  They know all about computers. Our records are on computer and actually are accessible from your home if you have a computer. Also Power Library is accessible to you with a card number. This gives online links to poems, magazine articles, an online dictionary, photo archive, homework help, Access PA and other excellent resources for children.  Ask me about this sometime.  With a card, you are eligible to go to any other library in Pennsylvania and take out books under the Access Pennsylvania program.  Don’t worry if it was a one time trip.  I can return the books for you.

     We have much to offer our members.  We have childrens’ videos which include Reading Rainbow, Babysitters’ Club, The Magic School Bus, Arthur, Veggie Tales and Wishbone and other titles.  Our large print book collection is growing and we have some audio tapes for both children and adults.  Our adult videos are nonfiction.  We don’t compete with the video stores.  We have a few computer CD’s which can be loaned out also.  We hold holiday parties each month for the children who belong to the library.  Everyone has a good time.  I will begin to hold a story time this Fall also.  F D Campbell Memorial Library is participating in the Workplace Essential Skills On-line Distance Learning program with the Adult Literacy of Lawrence County.  This is a free program and very worthwhile. 

     We have an annual Summer Reading program and a yearly read a thon which the children participate in.  There is a wide variety of magazines for both children and adult reading.  F.D.Campbell keeps up on current best sellers and we have many popular authors, with new and older titles.  Our children’s collection includes junior level and easy books and young adult books, both fiction and nonfiction.  Books are purchased in both hardback and paperback editions.  Usually editions are either hard or paper.  Our adult and junior nonfiction includes the full Dewey classification system.  If F.D.Campbell library doesn’t own a book, I can usually get it through interlibrary loan from Ellwood, New Castle, Pennsylvania Access or OCLC. 

     We hold an annual book and bake sale in the Summer and in November and December we sell raffle tickets for a “Goodie box” to raise money for the library.  For the baking, I depend on local bakers for the goodies and usually can fill three boxes to have three winners for the raffle.  We accept used books for our book and bake sale.  We also accept books or donations for memorials or books in tribute to someone. 

     We have ACT and SAT registration forms, absentee voter registration forms when applicable.  Pennsylvania and federal tax forms are available January through April.  We also have college catalogs from some local colleges and the Peterson guides and books to prepare for the SAT.  The application forms for the FAFSA are also sent to the library.  We have many books to help career minded folks. 

     With some of the Lawrence County tax money I have purchased books that teachers in the Mohawk Elementary and Junior and Senior High School use for required reading.  These books are placed on a reserved shelf when the books are needed for school students.  The library’s enlarged service area covers Mohawk Area School District.  Often the classes don’t have enough books.  Students who read slower and can’t finish the required pages need to be able to finish out of school. The books would be available at the library for the students to take out for one or two day loan periods. 

     Currently we have a sign made by some of Pam Pagely’s Junior High art students hung on the front porch of the library.  We are planning to order a new sign from Jenkin’s Sign Company.  I have a copy of what it should look like.  My board will probably approve it at out next board meeting.  Some of them have not seen the final sketch yet.    

    On the new library card, the Lawrence County FLS logo is a book in the shape of the county.  It was designed by Wesley Newton, a graduate of VoTeck.   We held a contest for students to design a logo and Wesley received a $100.00 bond for his design. 

     Things can only get better and better.  I hope you’ll stop in and check out your library that is part of the LCFLS and is right in your own backyard. 

Thank you,

Jean Workman