Archives for July 2018

Mechanicsburg, PA (July 18, 2018) – The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) congratulates several libraries throughout the state for their progress in the PA Forward™ Star Library Program.

“Libraries continue doing all they can to provide quality programs and resources to the patrons they serve,” said Christi Buker, Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director. “Anything from financial educational seminars to healthy eating, activity programs to toddler story time, library staffs and volunteers offer opportunities for all age groups to come, learn, grow and explore.

“Patrons’ needs are changing which means the services libraries provide are changing,” Buker added. “The PA Forward™ framework helps libraries increase their visibility, and in many instances, have helped them tap into local community partnerships, maximizing the program opportunities and resources available to their patrons. PA Forward™ really is a win not only for libraries but for Pennsylvania communities.”

PA Forward™ works through five key literacies – Basic, Information, Civic & Social, Health and Financial – to assist all residents in enhancing their overall quality of life. The Star Library recognition offers support to libraries who participate and integrate the literacies in their programming activities. Those libraries are recognized, on a quarterly basis, for meeting benchmarks within the bronze, silver and gold star levels of the Star Library Program. Programs range from teen reading lounges, tying into Basic Literacy and Civic and Social Literacy, to investment planning workshops, tying into Financial Literacy.

The following libraries achieved the highest level, the Gold Star, in the statewide program between April 1 and June 30, 2018:

Bala Cynwyd Memorial Library – Montgomery County; Bellwood Antis Public Library – Blair County; Carbondale Public Library – Lackawanna County; Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls – Beaver County; Degenstein Community Library – Northumberland County, Mifflin Community Library – Berks County; Monongahela Area Library – Washington County; Tyrone-Snyder Public Library – Blair County; Whitehall Public Library – Allegheny County; and Palmyra Public Library – Lebanon County. These libraries are each now one of more than 60 gold star libraries throughout the state.

A full listing of all libraries recognized, along with their star level achieved between April 1 and June 30, 2018, appears below:

Allegheny County

·         Borough of Jefferson Hills Library – Silver 5

·         Bridgeville Public Library – Silver 5

·         Carnegie Library of McKeesport – Bronze

·         Community Library of Castle Shannon – Silver 2

·         Monroeville Public Library – Silver 2

·         Northland Public Library Authority – Bronze

·         Penn Hills Library – Silver 2

·         Plum Community Library – Bronze

·         Shaler North Hills Library – Bronze

·         South Fayette Township Library – Silver 4

·         Upper St. Clair Township Library – Silver 5

·         Whitehall Public Library – Gold

Beaver County

·         Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls – Gold

Berks County

·         Mifflin Community Library – Gold

·         West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library – Bronze

Blair County

·         Bellwood Antis Public Library – Gold

·         Claysburg Area Public Library – Silver 5

·         Tyrone-Snyder Public Library – Gold

·         Williamsburg Public Library – Bronze

Bucks County

·         Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library – Silver 1

Butler County

·         Prospect Community Library – Silver 4

Cambria County

·         Cambria County Library – Silver 1

Chester County

·         Honey Brook Community Library – Bronze

Clarion County

·         Knox Public Library – Bronze

Lackawanna County

·         Carbondale Public Library – Gold

·         Dalton Community Library – Silver 1

·         Lackawanna County Library System Bookmobile – Silver 5

Lancaster County

·         Learning Commons, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences – Silver 5

·         Manheim Community Library – Bronze

Lawrence County

·         New Castle Public Library – Bronze

Lebanon County

·         Lebanon Community Library – Silver 1

·         Matthews Pubic Library – Silver 4

·         Myerstown Community Library – Silver 5

·         Palmyra Public Library – Gold 

Lehigh County

·         Emmaus Public Library – Silver 5

·         Lower Macungie Library – Silver 3

Luzerne County

·         Hazleton Area Public Library – Silver 1

·         Marian Sutherland Kirby Library – Silver 2

·         Monroeville Public Library – Silver 1

Mercer County

·         Community Library of the Shenango Valley – Silver 5

Montgomery County

·         Ardmore Library – Silver 3

·         Bala Cynwyd Memorial Library – Gold

·         Conshohocken Free Library – Bronze

·         Montgomery County Norristown Public Library – Silver 5

Northumberland County

·         Degenstein Community Library – Gold

Washington County

·         Chartiers-Houston Community Library – Bronze

·         Citizens Library – Bronze

·         Monongahela Area Library – Gold

Warren County

·         Warren Library Association – Bronze

Westmoreland County

·         Peoples Library – Bronze

York County

·         Guthrie Memorial Library – Bronze

·         Paul Smith Library of Southern York County – Silver 3

To date, roughly 200 libraries are participating in the PA Forward™ Star Library program. For more information, visit www.paforwardstarlibraries.org.

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