PA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES THE 2024 NEW PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIAN

Sara Kern of Penn State University Libraries named New Professional Librarian of the Year

Mechanicsburg, PA (September 24, 2024) – Each year, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) honors the service of their members, as well as those community volunteers, who go above and beyond the call of duty to support the work of libraries throughout the commonwealth.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the 2024 New Professional Librarian of the Year was awarded to Sara Kern.

Sara began her librarian career at Juniata College where she worked as an Access Services and Instruction Librarian and a Student Success and Outreach Librarian. She is currently an Engineering Librarian at Pennsylvania State University’s University Park Campus where she works as an instructor, department liaison, and manager.

In her teaching role, Sara promotes inclusivity in her information literacy classes and programs for students. Her well-structured information literacy plans have significantly enhanced the curriculum and benefited countless students and faculty members. She also provides innovative opportunities for students to engage with the library that contributes to the growth of the whole student as a lifelong citizen of this world.

Sara takes her role as a department liaison very seriously. By acquiring more foundational subject knowledge and developing strong working relationships with faculty and staff, Sara has become an integral part of the Engineering department’s functions. When the university was unable to deliver a donation of books to the Acoustics Engineering Department, Sara decided to deliver the books herself.

Sara’s dedication to the field of librarianship makes her an outstanding role model for her colleagues and students.

She is an accomplished writer and presenter in the field. Her involvement with the Pennsylvania Library

Association includes serving as a Member-at-Large for the Pennsylvania Library Association College and Research Division Board and as the Nominations & Elections Representative for the Juniata-Conemaugh Chapter.

“Congratulations to our 2024 award winner!  Their efforts truly serve as an inspiration to the library community” said Sylvia Orner, 2024 President of the Pennsylvania Library Association.   “I am so proud of their amazing work and humbled by their generosity with both their time and talent.  I hope that all PaLA members will join me in celebrating these well-deserved awards.”

“The Pennsylvania Library Association is able to do what we do thanks to the unwavering efforts of our members,” said Christi Buker, PaLA Executive Director. “These awards are just our small way of shining a light on what all librarians and library workers do to continue promoting the value libraries bring to communities they serve. We are thankful for their support and engagement and are honored to be able to recognize their efforts. Congratulations to all our 2024 winners.”

A committee comprised of association members reviews the nominations, submitted in late summer, and selects winners for a series of categories.

Founded in 1901, the Pennsylvania Library Association is the state's oldest professional library organization serving libraries, library employees, library trustees, and Friends of the Library groups. PaLA represents more than 1,300 personal, institutional, and commercial members affiliated with public, academic, special and school libraries throughout the commonwealth. The association represents the profession in Harrisburg with the state legislature and provides opportunities for professional growth, leadership development and continuing education for librarians.

For a listing of previous award winners, click here . For more information about the work of the Pennsylvania Library Association, visit www.palibraries.org .

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