The Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library is a community hub that offers a vast array of resources: books, reference materials, DVD's, audio CD's, internet and fax services, local and PA research, word processing, tax form outlet, internet and word processing public access computers, and more.
The Shaw Public Library was established in 1940 by Miss Ella Shaw as a free library serving the Clearfield Community in memory of her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw. The library was formed as a non-profit corporation and granted a charter by the Clearfield County Court, December 7, 1937. In January of 1939, the contract for construction was awarded for the 40x70 foot one-story buff brick structure. Cost to build the library was $22,000. Miss Inez Crandle began her duties as the first librarian on September 1, 1939. With over 3000 volumes catalogued and placed on the shelves (some donated, some purchased) the library opened on January 25, 1940. The Library opened its doors on 6 South Front Street in 1940. Since that time, the Library added wings to the original structure; however, the need for a new facility was apparent in the late 1980's. A community fund drive began, and in 1997 the Library relocated to 1 South Front Street in its new building that doubled the size of the original structure.
The Shaw Library serves a population of 17,657 in a rural community, which includes all individuals from birth through the young-at-heart. The Library offers a vast array of resources which include, bestsellers, reference materials, DVD's and books on CD. Also, remote access to the library catalog, the Overdrive down-loadable books program, the Learn-a-test program, and the Mango language database can be accessed via the library website at www.clearfield.org/shaw . Additionally, the Library offers family programs, Story Time, Toddler Time, and Baby Time programs during the school year. An adult, youth, and family summer reading program are held during the summer months. In 2005, the Shaw Public Library was the recipient of a Pennsylvania Best Practices Award for our family programming. The Library also hosts a variety of youth and adult special event programming throughout the calendar year. The Library is a member of the local Clearfield United Way and Clearfield Area Chamber of Commerce. The Director of the Library, Paula Marshall, is a member of ALA-American Library Association, Public Library Association, and PaLA-Pennsylvania Library Association. For more information call or stop by the library.
