June 21, 2019
Cumberland County Library System Foundation Receives Approval for “School-Year STEM” as Educational Improvement Program, Eligible to Receive EITC Contributions
Mechanicsburg, Pa. – The Cumberland County Library System Foundation has received approval for “School-Year STEM,” an innovative educational program, now eligible to receive contributions from approved corporations as part of the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. “School-Year STEM” is a series of free programs and activities designed to foster critical thinking, collaboration, group communication, and evidence gathering and evaluating skills while exploring science, technology, engineering, and math. School-Year STEM programs are offered in the afterschool hours and evening as well as on weekends, when public schools are closed and students do not have access to their school libraries.
The Cumberland County Library System Foundation was first approved as an Educational Improvement Organization in 2009 for its Summer Learning Program. The Summer Learning Program is a series of free events and activities designed to foster a love of reading as well as strengthen reading, writing, and learning skills. The Summer Learning Program extends the school year and helps stave off the “summer slide,” the loss of reading and learning skills that occurs when students are out of class during the summer break. In 2018, 6,597 children and teens from Cumberland County’s nine public school districts attended 1,666 summer learning programs offered by the member libraries of the Cumberland County Library System: Amelia S. Given Free Library in Mt. Holly Springs, Bosler Memorial Library in Carlisle, East Pennsboro Branch Library in Enola, Cleve J. Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill, John Graham Library in Newville, Joseph T. Simpson Library in Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland Public Library, and Shippensburg Public Library. With the additional approval of School-Year STEM, participating EITC businesses can direct their contributions to school-year programming at the library in addition to the summertime option.
Kevin Stoner, president of the Cumberland County Library System Foundation Board of Directors, comments, “By investing with the CCLSF’s School-Year STEM program, area businesses not only enhance the public school experience for area students, but lay the vital foundation for future workplace success.”
The Cumberland County Library System Foundation is a federally tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, EIN 20-8077580, with a mission to support the Cumberland County Library System and its member library collections, program services, and innovative initiatives.
Cumberland County’s public libraries lead their communities with educational, cultural, and entertainment programs, as well as authoritative and interesting materials. Students from Cumberland County’s nine public school districts – Big Spring, Camp Hill, Carlisle Area, Cumberland Valley, East Pennsboro, Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg, South Middleton, and West Shore – benefit from School-Year STEM, the Summer Learning Program, and many other library programs and services.
The Cumberland County Library System consists of seven federated local libraries, one branch facility, a system headquarters office, and an associated non-profit Foundation. The Library System provides support to its member libraries through information technology, securing library materials, older adult services, training opportunities, and administrative, and financial services. More information is available on the Cumberland County Library System website.
Find out about the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC).