Yes, we can afford 7 cents a day to keep our historic Library!
Morrisville Free Library
Community Reference
How your library is funded, what it costs, and where things stand today
Are you willing to pay that to keep our historic Library?
How the Library is Funded
The Morrisville Free Library is funded through property tax mils — a dedicated portion of your annual property tax bill. By law, this money can only be used for the library. It cannot be redirected to any other borough purpose.
The current library millage is four mils, which generates approximately $240,000 per year for library operations.
Based on approximately 9,000 residents and 3,000 taxpayers (households and businesses).
A Brief History — and Where Things Stand Today
Morrisville's library has deep roots. Here is a timeline of key moments — including recent events that have raised concerns about the library's leadership and future.
- 1904 Morrisville Free Library conceived
- 1956 Morrisville voters pass a referendum to support the library with dedicated tax dollars
- 1958 Library begins receiving Pennsylvania State Aid
- 1968 Library opens in its current location
- 2024 Library Director goes on extended medical leave
- Mar 2025 Library Director retires — position becomes vacant
- Dec 2025 Borough signs agreement to meet state requirements and receives state aid, but takes no action to hire a new director
- Jan 2026 Council votes no on directing the interim Borough Manager to post a Library Director position
- Apr 2026 Council approves a motion directing that the Library Director position be posted and that the hiring process begin
- May 2026 A minimal, uninformative job posting appears — on the borough homepage only
What the State Requires — and What It Protects
Pennsylvania's State Aid program comes with straightforward requirements designed to ensure every funded library actually serves its community. Meeting these standards is not a burden — it is what guarantees Morrisville residents a properly functioning library.
State Aid Requirements
Libraries receiving state funding must meet basic operational and service standards set by the Pennsylvania State Library.
PA State Aid requirements →Librarian Certification
Pennsylvania requires library directors to hold certification. For a small library system like Morrisville's, a Library Assistant certification applies — requiring 2 years of college and relevant library experience.
PA Librarian Certification →PA Library Code
The full Pennsylvania library code and certification regulations are available through the PA Code and Bulletin.
Chapter 141 — Library regulations (PDF) →The Library Director Position
A Library Director for a community like Morrisville is a professional role with a defined salary range and standard hiring expectations. Here is what that looks like in Pennsylvania.
Professional library director postings are typically listed through the Pennsylvania Library Association, with full position descriptions, qualifications, and application instructions. The posting Morrisville residents can currently find does not meet this standard.
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Example: Oley Valley Community Library Director posting A sample of what a proper small-community library director job listing looks like
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PA Library Association — Library Director job listings Browse current director postings across Pennsylvania to see the professional standard
All Reference Links
The following official sources support the information on this page.
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Pennsylvania State Aid to Public Libraries Official PA State Library — funding requirements and eligibility
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Pennsylvania Librarian Certification Official PA State Library — certification levels and requirements
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22 Pa. Code Chapter 141 — Library Regulations (PDF) The full Pennsylvania library code governing public library operations and certification
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Sample Library Director Job Listing — Oley Valley Pennsylvania Library Association — example of a professional director posting
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PA Library Association Job Board — Library Directors Browse all current director-level postings in Pennsylvania
