FOX CHAPEL, PA – There are countless reasons to “Love Your Library” all year long, but a new Romance Collection at Cooper-Siegel Community Library (CSCL) is here to sweeten the deal this September.
As members of the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), CSCL of Fox Chapel Borough and its branch location, Sharpsburg Community Library (SCL) of Sharpsburg Borough, participate in the annual September observance known as Love Your Library Month. Created in 2015 in partnership with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the countywide initiative encourages patrons to invest in their libraries.
In turn, ACLA libraries use all funds raised during September to directly support operating costs, state-of-the-art programming, new collections and more. To help spread the love this year, Adult and Youth Services Librarian Charlotte Getson recently launched CSCL’s first Romance Collection.
While finishing her Master’s in Library Science degree at the University of Pittsburgh this summer, Getson spent several months implementing an independent research project titled “Love Between the Pages.”
“I wanted to pursue something that would give me more experience in an aspect of libraries that I wasn’t as familiar with. We decided to go with creating a romance collection, which would allow me to work on collection development,” Getson said. “I would say that I’m a casual romance reader, and I love to see the different forms that romance can take in a story, and the variety of themes or subgenres that can be used to tell them.”
The result is an adult-focused, fiction collection comprising more than 800 titles divided into nine romance subgenres: Christian, Contemporary, Historical, LGBTQ+, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, SCI-FAN and Sports.
What sets the collection apart from others at the library, Getson said, is the inclusion of “Spice Ratings” in each book. The ratings system was developed using similar, existing scales on popular library sciences platforms such as Romance.io, Goodreads and Storygraph, and tells the reader the level of romantic and/or physical intimacy each title contains.
“From my experience, romance books are comfort reads for a lot of people. They acknowledge that there is a certain pattern to them,” Getson said. “I hope that patrons love the different subgenres we’ve chosen for this collection and the spice ratings we’ve added. These two things work together, so it’s a little easier for patrons to find the romance book that’s just right for them.”
In addition to her University of Pittsburgh mentor, Mary Kay, Getson worked with former CSCL Head of Library Resources and Technology Brad Wulfkuhle; Head of Library Programming and Community Engagement Megan Fogt; and Cataloger Karen Fornari to launch the new collection.
“Each of them gave me guidance in leadership, procedures, collection development, communication and delegating, and gave me a better understanding of how our library functions,” Getson said. “I would like to thank each of them for their guidance and patience as I learned, as well as their insight and ideas to make this collection a success and provide the most benefits to our community.”
Community Library Association Executive Director Jill McConnell said launching the collection during Love Your Library Month is “very fitting” because “romance novels are all about love.”
“The creation of this new collection will enable romance-loving patrons to find those books more easily. I believe it will also expose our patrons to some different authors they may not have been aware of,” McConnell said. “Charlotte has shown the same tremendous initiative and commitment to this project that she has exhibited in all the work she’s done for us. The amount of work Charlotte has put into this new collection really shows, and our patrons will certainly benefit from it.”
Getson agreed that finishing the collection in time for Love Your Library Month was perfect timing.
“Everyone needs something to feel loved; whether it’s in a romantic sense or to feel appreciated and useful,” she said. “I think this collection is a great way to help us display how much we need our community’s support to continue to offer the services they love.”
While the new Romance Collection is permanent, a special Love Your Library display will showcase select titles throughout September. SCL patrons and all ACLA library cardholders will be able to browse and borrow from the collection via the online catalog, located at https://acl.bibliocommons.com.
In addition to the new collection launch, both CSCL and SCL will sell tickets for raffle baskets, allow patrons to purchase donation hearts, and host a variety of special programming throughout Love Your Library Month. McConnell said the Community Library Association’s goal is to raise $25,000 between the two libraries during this year’s campaign.
All participating ACLA libraries will receive a pro-rated portion of a $200,000 match pool to support their general operations, thanks to the Jack Buncher Foundation and additional contributions from NiSource Charitable Foundation and Columbia Gas. All donations received during September 2026 – up to a maximum of $500 per donor per library – will count toward the match pool.
Stop by our libraries to participate in fundraising activities or donate between September 1 and 30 online at https://coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.charityproud.org/Donate/Index/44787.
Getson said continued patron support through September and beyond is crucial, because “libraries are one of the few places that are truly free.”
“They not only provide books and other physical materials, but also e-materials, classes and other events that promote community engagement. Libraries also serve as a social hub for people to build connections with others,” she said. “These things make them a valuable resource, and showing your support during Love Your Library Month is a great way for people to demonstrate their appreciation of how libraries have positively impacted their lives.”
To learn more about the Allegheny County Library Association’s annual Love Your Library campaign, visit https://aclalibraries.org/love-your-library-month/.
For more information about Cooper-Siegel Community Library, including upcoming programming, visit www.coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org.
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For media inquiries, contact Communications & Marketing Specialist Kaylie Glaze at 412-828-9520, ext. 5012, or glazek@coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org. Cooper-Siegel Community Library belongs to the Allegheny County Library Association; is part of the Community Library Association; and serves all Fox Chapel School District communities.
To learn more about the Allegheny County Library Association’s annual Love Your Library campaign, visit https://aclalibraries.org/love-your-library-month/.
