Agency Type: Public The Blair County Library System is a cooperative which coordinates the provision of public library services to Blair County residents in order to insure access to information for all. The System is supported by the Blair County Commissioners, various Blair County municipalities, Blair County School Districts, the State of Pennsylvania, various federal, state, and local grants, and private donations. Library services are provided directly to county residents by eight public libraries located in Altoona, Bellwood, Claysburg, Hollidaysburg, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, Tyrone, and Williamsburg. A system wide electronic communications network and a van delivery service are utilized to link service operations throughout the County. Library cards which confer eligibility for services are issued to Blair County residents at no charge at all eight public library locations. Lending services include juvenile and adult fiction, juvenile and adult non-fiction, large print books, books on cassette, videocassettes, and sound recordings. Information services include telephone and walk-in reference and research assistance, organized access to newspapers and magazines, organized access to genealogical and local sources. All 8 libraries offer public access to the Internet. Outreach services include a homebound book delivery service and the placement of large print book collections in agencies in need of them. Additional services include interlibrary loan, literacy tutoring, photocopying services, telefax services, and educational programming for children and adults. The loan of certain types of equipment such as overhead projectors, projection screens, slide projectors, a video player, a video projector, and a LDC panel can be arranged at the headquarters library in Altoona.
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