On Thursday, January 29, the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials hosted a municipal mixer at North Wales Area Public Library. The gathering, which included township and borough officials from all over the county was a celebration and exploration of how municipalities can support the vital work being done by the Montgomery County public libraries.
Along with delicious food, wonderful library tours, and visits with Tobi the bearded dragon and Cloud the rabbit, the highlight of the evening was the following speech by North Wales Area Library director Jennifer Koch:
The Spark of Library Magic
Good evening, everyone. They say that libraries are quiet places, but if you listen closely to any public library in Montgomery County, you’ll hear something much louder: the sound of a community growing, learning, and thriving together.
I’ve been the director here at North Wales Area Library for a year and a half now, and in that time, I’ve witnessed what I like to call “Library Magic.” While I’ll share stories from our library tonight, know that this magic is happening in every public library across our county. It’s the moment a toddler, who had been silent for a year, finally looks up while petting Tobi the Bearded Dragon and says, “Hello, Tobi.” It’s the sight of Nicholas, a student who aged out of the North Penn Transitional Learning program, coming in every Wednesday at 1:00 PM to learn job skills, clean Cloud the rabbit’s cage, and share a laugh over Curious George. It’s watching 1,035 new patrons walk through our doors in 2025 alone, each one discovering their own piece of library magic.
These stories could come from any of our sister libraries. Tonight, North Wales is simply the stage where we celebrate what’s possible when communities invest in their public libraries.
The Reality Behind the Magic – This isn’t Hogwarts
This magic doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through partnership. Let me use North Wales as a case study for the funding reality facing public libraries across our region.
Picture it Sicily 1947…wrong story.
But really, currently, we receive $35,000 from the State of Pennsylvania, $20,000 from North Wales Borough, $70,000 from Upper Gwynedd Township, and $35,000 from Montgomery Township. While we are deeply grateful for this $160,000 in state and municipal support. However, our operating budget is $395,275.
That leaves a significant gap—a gap that we bridge through the “Power of Yes” from our local businesses, community and patrons. In 2025 alone, we saw 120,000 items checked out from our small, 10,000-square-foot facility. We are punching far above our weight class, and we do it because our communities need us to.
This funding challenge isn’t unique to NWAL—it’s the reality for public libraries throughout Montgomery County and Pennsylvania. We all rely on creative partnerships and community support to bridge the gap between municipal funding and operational needs.
Impactful Partnerships That Transform Lives
Public libraries are more than just repositories for books; we are vibrant hubs for community members far and wide. When you walk into our entrance today, you’ll see empty frames waiting to be filled with student artwork from NPSD—a rotating gallery that celebrates our youth and gives them a platform to shine.
You’ll see families participating in our “Babie’s 1st Book” initiative, where newborns receive a book with a plaque bearing their name and birthdate, made possible by the North Wales Water Authority. You’ll find our homeschool community gathering for FREE educational opportunities tailored to their unique needs.
On any given week, you might encounter:
- Thoughtful Thursdays, where families learn about the 250th anniversary of America, the need for clean dry socks, ALS, religious trauma, or anxiety
- Kindergarten Prep with Miss Nicole, preparing our youngest learners for success through reading and song
- Toddler Sing Sing with Miss Erin, where little voices find their confidence to sing loudly, dance, and use interesting instruments to make some noise
- Nicholas, Sean, and their peers from the Transitional Learning program, building job skills and independence through meaningful work
- Weekly volunteers like Jen & Dom who hold Chess & Board Game hours for our other-abled young adults
We recently received 32 laptops of the total 200 laptops given to Montgomery County through the PA Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCED) as part of the PA Digital Connectivity Program to launch programming in AI, internet safety, and computer education, here at NWAL. However, even “free” resources come with a cost—we now need to fundraise for the software and “Restore & Reboot” capabilities to make these tools sustainable for public use. In our case we are looking at nearly $2000.00 dollars to make these amazing tools available for public use, not to mention what the other libraries in our county have had to do to make the resource available.
This is the reality of nonprofit library work across Montgomery County: every opportunity requires creative funding solutions. What you see here at North Wales is mirrored in libraries throughout our region—each one stretching resource to serve their communities.
The Vision: What Funding Makes Possible
If you look around our library today, you’ll see what the potential of funding can do. Thanks to a $100,000 Erb Grant from the Chester County Community Fund, we are recreating our teen and children’s areas to be safer, more inclusive, and sensory-friendly spaces where every child feels welcome.
We’re preparing to host “Bring Your Child to the Library Day” with North Penn School District—a day full of STEAM activities, culminating with children getting their very first library cards. This FREE event will include educators from North Penn SD and teen volunteers working alongside community families, building connections that last a lifetime.
We host mini-golf nights, trivia nights, and our two largest fundraisers each year: the Taste of Montgomery County and our Page to Broadway Gala. These events rely on your attendance and sponsorships to defray costs and keep our doors open. If that isn’t a call to get your tickets now, I don’t know what is!
While these are North Wales examples, every public library in our county has similar stories of innovation, partnership, and community impact—all dependent on sustained funding and support.
The Call to Advocacy
By supporting your local public library—whether it’s North Wales, Lansdale, Indian Valley, Montgomery County-Norristown, Wissahickon, Horsham or any of our sister libraries—you are giving back to the families who live in your boroughs and townships. You are ensuring that knowledgeable team members can continue to make the impossible possible for families every single day. Just ask one of the amazing representatives who are here tonight…we have Kate Shaw, District Consultant for Montgomery County as well Erin Thompson, Assistant Director of NWAL …ask them how you can help, how you can partner and create long-lasting legacies at our Public Libraries.
Everything ties back to funding. If we continue to have funding, we continue to have free public libraries where:
- A once-nonverbal toddler finds her voice
- An aged-out student discovers his purpose, training, and inclusivity
- A homeschool family finds their community
- Thousands of items circulate into eager hands
- New patrons discover their library home
- Adults, Teens, and Toddlers, find programming geared towards them
The Next Chapter
Our library’s 101-year journey is a tapestry of affirmations—a testament to what happens when communities say “Yes” to possibility. Tonight, I’m asking you to say “Yes” not just to North Wales Area Library, but to the entire network of public libraries serving Montgomery County. Help us keep the magic alive for many years to come.
When you support your local public library—wherever that is—you’re not just funding a building. You’re investing in the moment a child discovers they love reading. You’re creating the space where a young adult with special needs learns job skills. You’re providing the resources that help a family navigate the digital world safely.
You’re making magic possible in every corner of our county.
I leave you with this question, “What was your first memory of your school or public library?”
Thank you.