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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
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Good Morning, I hope this email finds you well. If you have an upcoming project in a municipality with a population under 20K and you are looking for an affordable way to get it funded, then we should talk! USDA Rural Development is taking applications now for Fiscal Year 2025. This federal program provides low interest loans and potential grants for essential community facilities such as yours. Public Bodies and Non-Profits are eligible for USDA funding for projects including Fire Companies, Hospitals, Food Banks, Administrative Offices, Historical Societies, Libraries, Courthouses, Radio Equipment projects, Prisons and Prison Release Centers, and much more! USDA Rural Development -PA Website- Community Facilities
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
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In Cambria County, Governor Shapiro Highlights $45 Million Investment in High-Speed Internet at Community Hubs Across the CommonwealthThe Shapiro Administration — working swiftly to deliver on its commitment to connect every Pennsylvanian to high-speed, affordable internet — recently approved 49 Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program grants, including a $2 million grant to the Cambria County Library, expanding internet access in public places like schools, local libraries, and community health centers. Governor Shapiro is committed to ensuring Pennsylvanians can access high-speed, affordable internet to further their education, advance career opportunities, and utilize telemedicine no matter where they live. Read Full Press Release Here!
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Friday, January 10, 2025
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United for Libraries and Penguin Random House Grants to U.S. Rural and Small LibrariesThe initiative will serve rural and small libraries in need nationwide through grant funds, education, and in-depth training. Applications will be open from Jan. 15-Feb. 17, 2025. Article Here!
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
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Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Now Accepting Applications for Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program to Support Local Communities’ Work to Preserve History Applicants can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, with a total of $2 million available from the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund. PHMC will promote projects that align with 2026’s celebrations of America’s 250th birthday. Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) today announced the opening of the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program to help fund local projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and community revitalization. Two categories of grants—construction and planning—are available for historic resources in Pennsylvania that are listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Applicants may apply for only one type of grant. For this year’s grant round, PHMC will give special consideration to proposals that advance one of the America250(opens in a new tab) themes and align with the United States Semiquincentennial celebration in 2026. Applicants will be required to explain how their project aligns with one of the themes. Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grants are available for rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration activities for historic resources that are publicly accessible and under nonprofit or local government ownership. Construction grants are available from $5,000 to $100,000 and require a 50/50 cash match. Prospective applicants for Construction Grants should attend a PHMC webinar on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM. To register, please visit the Eventbrite Construction Grant registration page(opens in a new tab). Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grants are available for planning and development initiatives that enhance historic preservation in communities. Planning grant applications may include municipal planning initiatives focusing on historic resources or may be used to meet building- or project-specific planning goals. Project grants are available from $5,000 to $25,000 and require a 50/50 cash match. Prospective applicants for Planning Grants should attend a PHMC webinar on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 3:00 PM. To register, please visit the [Eventbrite%20Planning%20Grant%20registration%20page]Eventbrite Planning Grant registration page. Recordings of the webinar series will be available on the PHMC’s PA Trails of History YouTube channel(opens in a new tab). Applications are due March 3, 2025. Grants will be awarded through a competitive selection process and are contingent on the availability of funds. Please note that all PHMC grant applications are now submitted on the Commonwealth’s Single Application for Assistance system(opens in a new tab). Paper or emailed applications cannot be accepted. Visit the PHMC website for eligibility information and grant guidelines. About the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office(opens in a new tab) (SHPO), the official historic preservation agency for the Commonwealth, protects, promotes and educates Pennsylvanians about the state’s vast collection of historic and archaeological sites and artifacts, encourage them to value these resources as part of our shared past and future, and enable them to preserve the places that tell our local, state, and national stories for future generations. By administering grant and tax credit programs, overseeing historic designations, providing technical assistance, and more, SHPO is safeguarding our Pennsylvania’s cultural heritage. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram or LinkedIn.
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Friday, December 27, 2024
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ALA ANNOUNCES THE 2025 CLASS OF EMERGING LEADERS Congratulations to Victoria Freeny for begin selected as the Pennsylvania Library Association Emerging Leader representative. The American Library Association (ALA) has selected forty-six (46) people to participate in its 2025 class of Emerging Leaders (EL). The EL program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers. See the list of participants. The Emerging Leaders program will kick off with a day-long session during the ALA LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX25) event in Phoenix, Arizona. Participants will continue in a virtual learning and networking environment for six months. The EL program culminates with a poster session where the Emerging Leaders will highlight the results of their project planning work during the ALA 2025 Annual Conference in Philadelphia this June. Christina Fuller-Gregory and Libby Holtmann, co-chairs of the Emerging Leaders program, look forward to working with this class of Emerging Leaders. Commenting on the EL program, Fuller-Gregory and Holtmann shared that ' We feel privileged to work with a group of dynamic early career librarians and library workers. The 2025 Class of Emerging Leaders continues the EL programs tradition of excellence, bringing with them both a passion for the field, and a desire to continue to advance the larger work or ALA. This year's class can expect to engage in more specialized programming, intentional peer-to-peer engagement, and a continued tradition of providing Emerging Leaders with project-based learning opportunities." The EL cohort consists of individuals from across the U.S. and Canada. The participants commit to taking part in all aspects of the program and may have an opportunity to serve on an ALA, division, chapter, round table, or affiliate committee or workgroup upon completion. This year, approximately sixty-one (61%) percent of participants have received sponsorships. The sponsors include ALA divisions, roundtables, the National Associations of Librarians of Color, state chapters, and ALA affiliate organizations. Each sponsor commits to financial support of an Emerging Leader to help defray costs of attending the LibLearnX and the ALA Annual Conferences. The complete list of the selected participants and sponsoring organizations can be found on the Emerging Leader’s webpage. The ALA Emerging Leaders program is managed by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR).
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Posted By Kimberly Snyder Wise,
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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A few months ago we announced that both personal & institutional members of PaLA are eligible to open accounts with the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union (LCFCU) which offers some great loan & credit card rates plus other perks. To apply for an account go to www.LCFCU.org. (You will need your PaLA member #) Additionally, LCFCU is offering scholarships for two 2025 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES pursuing an undergraduate degree and two scholarships for GRADUATE STUDENTS pursuing a Masters in Library Science! LCFCU membership is required. Scholarship Webpage (Official Rules): https://www.lcfcu.org/resources/resources-2/scholarship/ Scholarship Application: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/99841-Library-Of-Congress-Fcu The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025. Good luck!
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Monday, December 9, 2024
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We are saddened to hear about the passing of Pennsylvania Library Association Past-President Dr. Mary Anne Fedrick. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Read her full obituary here.
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
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SPOTLIGHT PA Forward® from the Pennsylvania Library Association Helping Pennsylvania Libraries Cultivate Literacy Skills in Their Communities PA Forward® was highlighted in a community spotlight at the Information Literacy website developed by the Institute for Museums and Library Services. Check out the Spotlight here: PA Forward® Spotlight
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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
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PA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES THE 2024 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Melinda Tanner, District Services Manager and Consultant Librarian with Westmoreland County Federated Library System, Greensburg, PA presented with the Distinguished Service Award for 2024. The Recording of the Ceremony can be watched Here!
Mechanicsburg, PA (October 15, 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, October 15, 2024, Melinda Tanner was recognized for her service to the Association with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award.
It is with great pleasure and appreciation that the Pennsylvania Library Association recognizes Melinda Tanner with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award, an award to recognize exceptionally meritorious statewide service to libraries and the Pennsylvania Library Association.
Melinda is a District Services Manager and Consultant Librarian with Westmoreland County Federated Library System, Greensburg, PA. According to her nominator, Melinda has been a force in Pennsylvania libraries. She began her career as a library director and soon after took on the role of District Consultant serving numerous libraries. Melinda possesses a deep understanding of library codes, operational strategies, human resources management, and governance issues, which she generously shares with her peers and colleagues.
Some of her most influential accomplishments have involved the work she did mentoring other librarians and shaping the careers of numerous young library professionals.
Melinda's impact extends well beyond the more than fifty libraries she has directly served in four counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania (Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland). Her contributions to the Pennsylvania Library Association are numerous and significant. Through leadership on various committees her proactive involvement in statewide initiatives has earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues statewide.
One of her many notable achievements was the creation of the association’s Rural and Small Libraries Roundtable. Melinda saw the need for librarians working in small and rural communities to have a place to focus on their unique issues. She was also involved with important work with state library code revisions and was a part of the committee that created the highly successful PA Forward initiative.
Beyond Pennsylvania, Melinda has been involved with numerous initiatives including service on a National Science Foundation project which brought high quality science programming to libraries.
Melinda continues to serve as a District Consultant making an indelible mark on the landscape of Pennsylvania libraries.
“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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Posted By Robin Lesher,
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
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PA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES THE 2024 LIBRARY OF THE YEAR
Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton named 2024 Library of the Year
The Recording of the Ceremony can be watched Here!
Mechanicsburg, PA (October 15, 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, October 15, 2024, the 2024 Library of the Year was recognized.
The Weinberg Memorial Library’s vision is to promote “an accessible, inclusive, supportive, and welcoming environment where everyone can learn and grow creatively, intellectually, and spiritually.” The library staff embodies this vision in their day-to-day operations, and prides themselves on service to the community, professional development, and service to the Pennsylvania Library Association.
Over the past year and a half, the Weinberg Memorial Library has accomplished much in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. They collaborated with campus groups, offices, and faculty to host a series of films to celebrate Black History, Arab American Heritage, and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander months for both students and the Scranton community at large. Library staff created new research guides for gender and sexuality and accessibility, and a Statement on Harmful Language to address systemic problems in the Library of Congress subject headings. They also created an Accessibility/Sensory Map to highlight the library’s spaces and features with general accessibility, types of lighting, and noise level. The guide is helpful to all, but particularly valuable to neurodiverse students. From library support for open educational resources to a collection diversity audit focused on children’s books to support the greater Scranton community, and to hiring an outside consultant to review DEI efforts, the Library has demonstrated their ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Deserving of recognition is the Library’s focus on professional development. The Weinberg Memorial Library has been a long-time institutional member of the Pennsylvania Library Association as well as supporting their staff both financially and with time as personal members of the Association. They not only support their own staff, but were a 2023 conference sponsor so that all librarians could have an enhanced experience through coffee and conversation.
Many staff attend, volunteer, and lead within the Association. Sylvia Orner served as conference chair in 2020 and is currently President. Kate Cummings was previously Treasurer on the statewide board of directors and is now serving as Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair. Rebecca Dzikowski is the current Mentorship Subcommittee Chair. Ian O’Hara serves as the College and Research Division grant funds manager and is on the EDI Committee. Sheli Pratt-McHugh was 3rd Vice-President, Membership Committee Chair, and is currently on the conference committee and EDI committee. Marleen Cloutier was the 2023 Conference Chair for Technical Arrangements and is now the vice-chair elect for the Technical Services Round Table. Melissa Gallo is the treasurer for the Northeast Chapter. As the nominator indicated, “We all individually have gained so much from our time and efforts within and for the Association, and it has collectively contributed to the Weinberg Memorial Library’s ability to serve its community in impactful ways.”
“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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