Press Releases

PA Forward® Star Library Program helps libraries provide literacy
programming in local communities

Mechanicsburg, PA (April 3, 2017) – Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) kicked off a statewide launch of the Star Library Program. Roughly two dozen libraries recently received their stars and are now officially recognized as PA Forward® Star Libraries.

“The response to this program has been nothing short of amazing,” said Christi Buker, PA Library Association Executive Director. “When you conceptualize a new program, and test it on a small group, you aren’t always sure what the response will be once you take it to the larger audience. In this instance, we absolutely made the right decision to broaden the program. More and more libraries are looking to receive their star and demonstrate their full value to the communities they serve. For the libraries, they are receiving tools and resources that allow them to offer needed programming to their patrons. For our partnering organizations, there is more opportunity to disseminate information and gain facetime with residents and businesses alike. The libraries have become the place to spark needed conversations and interactions. It’s a true win-win.” 

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. In 2015, one of the PA Library Association’s Academy of Leadership Studies (or PALS) cohorts conceived the Star Library Program and the more the program took form, the more they realized the potential for a longer-term opportunity. 

“The Star Library Program went statewide at the beginning of the year,” Buker added. “This program has truly lit a fire within our libraries as they are finding more ways to connect with their patrons and are excited to offer programs they may not have thought of offering previously, and connecting with local resource partners. These programs help our citizens become more informed, suggesting they would likely become more involved in their local areas. There is a real value here.” 

The Star Library recognition offers support to libraries who participate and incorporate the literacies in their programming activities. Those libraries are recognized for meeting benchmarks within the bronze, silver and gold star levels of the program.
 
Examples of the types of programs libraries offer patrons include those such as Cursive Club and Reading Clubs (Basic Literacy); Social Media for Seniors and Staying Safe Online (Information Literacy); Mock Trial and Mock Election programs (Civic & Social Literacy); Healthy Food Choices Storytime and Community Blood Drive (Health Literacy); and Children and Money and Identity Theft (Financial Literacy.) 

Below is a listing of those libraries awarded their PA Forward® Star status in the first quarter of this year’s program:  

Bronze Star Level

• Abington Community Library – Lackawanna County 
• Cambria County Library – Cambria County
• Chippewa Branch Library – Beaver County 
• Easttown Library – Chester County
• Emmaus Public Library – Lehigh County 
• Frackville Free Public Library – Schuylkill County
• Free Library of Northampton Township – Bucks County 
• Hollidaysburg Area Public Library – Blair County 
• Huntingdon County Library – Huntingdon County
• Indiana Free Library – Indiana County 
• Madigan Library at Penn College – Lycoming County 
• Muhlenberg Community Library – Berks County 
• Peters Township Public Library – Washington County 
• St. Mary’s Public Library – Elk County 
• Summerville Public Library – Jefferson County 
• Upper Merion Township Public Library – Montgomery County 
• Warminster Township Free Library – Bucks County 

Silver Star Level
• Altoona Area Public Library (5th Star) – Blair County
• Claysburg Area Public Library (1st Star) – Blair County 
• Easton Area Public Library (1st Star) – Northampton County
• Grove Family Library (5th Star) – Franklin County 
• North Pocono Public Library (2nd Star) – Lackawanna County 
• Osterhout Free Library (5th Star) – Luzerne County 
• Pittston Memorial Library (1st Star) – Luzerne County
• Tyrone-Snyder Public Library (1st Star) – Blair Community

Gold Star Level
• Tunkhannock Public Library – Wyoming County  

Libraries working toward their star status can submit their documentation by visiting  www.paforwardstarlibraries.org.  Follow the prompts to create an account and review the submission instructions. More information about PA Forward® and the Star Library Program is also available at  www.palibraries.org. Once there, click on the “Get Involved” tab and then click on “PA Forward®.” Also feel free to contact Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PA Forward® Project Manager, at 717-766-7663 or [email protected]. 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PA Forward™ Project Manager 717-766-7663 or [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION KICKS OFF NEW YEAR WITH LAUNCH OF STATEWIDE “STAR LIBRARY” PROGRAM

PA Forward™ initiative connects residents with library programming; tells story of what libraries bring to local communities

Mechanicsburg, PA (Jan. 3, 2017) – The new year brings a new statewide program for Pennsylvania’s libraries according to the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA). The Star Library Program, publicly announced during the association’s fall conference, is now officially available to all libraries in the commonwealth.

“The Star Library Program is the next iteration of PA Forward®,” said Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director Christi Buker. “PA Forward® frames our libraries stories, helping them to connect even more with their communities. This new program will reinforce the value our libraries provide to communities and to our individual development. We encourage the libraries to go for the gold and our residents to continue accessing these beacons in our 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. In 2015, one of the PA Library Association’s Academy of Leadership Studies (or PALS) cohorts conceptualized the Star Library Program and the more the program took form, the more they realized the potential for a longer-term opportunity.

“PA Forward® had been around a few years and we were always looking at more ways to help libraries and people connect with the initiative,” said Joann Eichenlaub, Assistant Director of the Madigan Library at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and member of the 2015 PALS class. “By adding the Star Library tag, we hope libraries will be able to further strengthen state support as well as leverage local support for their branches.”

To determine whether the program would have any standing with the library community a pilot of the program launched in the North Central Library District in the spring of 2016. Of the 40 libraries in the district, 19 agreed to participate in the pilot and all libraries reached star level status with a majority attaining gold star status within the pilot time frame.

“For the participating libraries, the pilot program sparked a new interest in their library from their community patrons and created new partnerships that were beneficial to the library and its constituents,” Eichenlaub added. “Library board members wanted to know more about how this amazing program was creating a buzz and demonstrating how their individual libraries were meeting community needs for programming. We couldn’t have imagined the pilot being as successful as it was. It was like a breath of fresh air igniting new energy into the libraries’ programming plans and even created enthusiasm amongst the library staffs. We can’t wait to see how the program is received across the state.”

The Star Library recognition offers support to libraries who participate and incorporate the literacies in their programming activities. They are then recognized for meeting benchmarks within the bronze, silver and gold star level categories within the program.

Libraries working toward their star status can submit their documentation by visiting www.paforwardstarlibraries.org.  Follow the prompts to create an account and review the submission instructions. More information about PA Forward™ and the Star Library Program is also available at  www.palibraries.org. Once there, click on the “Get Involved” tab and then click on “PA Forward™.” Also feel free to contact Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PA Forward™ Project Manager, at 717-766-7663 or [email protected].

About the Pennsylvania Library Association

Founded in 1901, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) is the state’s oldest and most diverse professional library organization serving libraries, library employees, library trustees, and Friends of the Library groups.

For more information, visit www.palibraries.org, facebook.com/PALibraries or @PALibraries on Twitter.

About PA Forward®

The Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward® | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative was conceived to give voice to what the library community already knows, and what other states throughout the nation recognize – with the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology, and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all of our citizens.

For more information, visit www.PAForward.org, facebook.com/paforward or @PAForward5 on Twitter.

Program works to increase institutional capacity for continued community engagement; Creates opportunities for access for residents

Mechanicsburg, PA – Highlighting Pennsylvania libraries and their roles in powering progress throughout the state, the PA Library Association announced the January 2017 statewide launch of the PA Forward™ Star Library Program during their 2016 annual state conference earlier this week.

“The Star Library Program is designed to showcase libraries, to create opportunities to make connections with local communities and stakeholders, and to demonstrate how libraries are truly integral to the progress and future of Pennsylvania and our residents,” said Christi Buker, Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director. “PA Forward® provides the framework that gives a collective voice to libraries throughout the state. This new program will take PA Forward® to the next level and in turn, showcase and reinforce the value our libraries provide to communities and to our individual development.”   

The Star Library program was developed by one of the Association’s 2015 PALS (PA Library Association’s Academy of Leadership Studies) groups as their class project. The more the group conceptualized the project, the more they realized the program had potential for a long-term impact. The team developed three tier levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold – with various actions to achieve within each tier under the PA Forward® umbrella.

“In developing this recognition, we realized libraries are already offering programming that aligns with PA Forward® and they may not realize it,” said Joann Eichenlaub, Assistant Director of the Madigan Library at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and member of the 2015 PALS class. “By adding the Star Library tag, we hope to help them connect with PA Forward® even more, aiding them in further strengthening state support and leveraging local support for their programs and services.”

To determine whether or not the program would have any standing within the library community a pilot launched in the North Central Library District in the spring of 2016. Of the 40 libraries in the district, 19 agreed to participate in the trial.

“We couldn’t have imagined the pilot would be as successful as it was,” said June Houghtaling, North Central Library District Consultant. “Many of those pilot libraries didn’t want the program to end and wanted to keep working toward even more star levels. Then news of the pilot spread, and more libraries wanted to be involved. We can’t wait to get this program on board statewide, engaging even more libraries in the PA Forward® movement.”

The North Central Library District includes Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties.

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 incorporate the literacies in their libraries’ programming activities. Participating libraries are encouraged to celebrate their success in using PA Forward® to create new partnerships, develop broader community support, and ultimately establish influence and credibility as a unified, collective, powerful voice for the benefit of all libraries.

As part of the program, logos on the libraries’ event flyers and marketing materials identified which specific literacies the libraries’ events supported. PA Forward® encourages all Pennsylvania libraries to use cohesive branding and outreach materials to frame communications to key stakeholders – elected officials, community leaders, donors, patrons, board, Friends and employees. Libraries use PA Forward®’s five literacies as a guiding framework for setting service priorities, identifying potential community and funding partners, structuring strategic plans, and building well-rounded, multi-skilled boards.

“The PA Forward® Star Library Program is about giving recognition to libraries and in turn demonstrates measurable value and benefits communities realize because of the efforts of their local libraries,” added Buker.

The participating pilot libraries have until the end of the calendar year to complete their Star Level status. Other libraries interested in participating in the Star Library Program can begin work toward their Star Level status in November but will not be able to submit materials for consideration until January 2017 when the program officially launches statewide. More information about the program can be found by visiting www.palibraries.org. Under “Get Involved”, click on “Brand with PA Forward®”

About the Pennsylvania Library Association

Founded in 1901, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) is the state’s oldest and most diverse professional library organization serving libraries, library employees, library trustees, and Friends of the Library groups. For more information, visit www.palibraries.org, facebook.com/PALibraries or @PALibraries on Twitter.

About PA Forward®

The Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward® | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative was conceived to give voice to what the library community already knows, and what other states throughout the nation recognize – with the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all of our citizens. For more information, visit www.PAForward.org, facebook.com/paforward or @PAForward5 on Twitter.

(Mechanicsburg, PA) – During an event at the Capitol, The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) unveiled a new statewide initiative called PA Forward® | Pennsylvania Libraries. “Today, we change the way we talk about libraries,” said Debbie Malone, PaLA president. “For the last three years, the rightest minds from Pennsylvania’s public, academic, and school libraries have been working together on this initiative. PA Forward™ will position libraries n a new and more compelling way to advocate for their future.”

Throughout the state, there is tangible evidence that libraries have a leadership role in the community and impact peoples’ lives. And with the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology, and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for everyone.

“To keep Pennsylvania thriving, there needs to be an educated public that has access to information,” said Malone. “Libraries are the hub that connects the public to that information and PA Forward® will help reinforce and strengthen those connections in various ways.”

For academic libraries, PA Forward®will strengthen the public’s perception that academic institutions provide great benefits by sharing resources and services with the community at large. For school libraries, PA Forward® will reinforce what experience has shown: Students in schools with strong libraries learn more, get better grades, and achieve higher test scores than students who attend schools without libraries. For public libraries, PA Forward™ will strengthen their position as essential to a growing customer base of private and municipal organizations and individuals, and as high-quality early learning providers that ultimately save taxpayer dollars otherwise needed for remedial programs.

PA Forward® will redefine the library’s role in the Commonwealth within the context of five essential literacies that all Pennsylvanians need in order to attain success as students, parents, employees, consumers, and citizens. Through Basic Literacy, libraries can help Pennsylvania achieve one of the highest literacy rates in the country, thereby contributing to a trained and skilled workforce, and a growing economy, tax base, and population. In Information Literacy, Pennsylvanians can improve their education, enhance their job skills, develop their personal lives, and fully participate in a digital society by learning how to use online resources and current technology. Civic and Social Literacy gives citizens the knowledge and skills they need to improve their lives and participate and contribute effectively to their community, government, and society. Health Literacy is helping citizens manage their own and their family’s well-being, and empowering them to be effective partners with their healthcare providers so they can live longer, more productive lives. And Financial Literacy helps citizens become informed consumers and guides individuals, small businesses, and other organizations to contribute to the economic vitality of their community through innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

“To help promote the importance of PA Forward®, we have an impressive group of 18 ‘founding’ partners that are made up of corporations, state agencies, and statewide associations. But they all have something in common – their public commitment to libraries and literacy,” said Glenn Miller, executive director for PaLA. “They will partner with our 600+ libraries to reach more than six million Pennsylvanians with
literacy messages and resources.”

Representing businesses, non-profits, and corporations are Comcast, Giant Food Stores, Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research, State YMCA of Pennsylvania, Inc., TechQuest PA, and United Way of Pennsylvania. Representing the state agencies are the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, and Pennsylvania Department of State. The statewide association partners are the American Academy of Pediatrics (Pennsylvania Chapter), Association of Pennsylvania Public Library Systems (APPLS), Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries, Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.

Also introduced during the announcement was the PA Forward® Advisory Board. This diverse group of individuals will provide strategic guidance, resource connections, and advocacy to support PA Forward™’s mission to strengthen libraries and build Pennsylvania’s literacy levels. The board members are: Kara Dolphin Beem, Esq., senior associate at Greenlee Partners; Michael D. Colgan, CAE, CEO and executive director of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Lindsay Barrett George, children’s book author and illustrator; Mary Garm, Administrator for the Lackawanna County Library System; Timothy Genetti, president of PQ Express; Frank Lynch, senior director of government and community affairs for Comcast; Dr. Barbara K. Mistick, president of Wilson College; Tony Ross, president and CEO of the United Way of Pennsylvania; William H. Schell, president of Martin Library Association; John J.“Ski” Sygielski, president of Harrisburg Area Community College; Alisha B. Wells, manager of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; Michael A. Wishnow, senior vice president of communications and marketing for the PA Credit Union Association; Nancy D. Zionts, chief program officer of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh; and honorary board chair Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author.