Libraries Blazing Star-Aligned Trails Throughout Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Library Association recognizes libraries for PA Forward^TM Star achievements earned between April 1 and June 30, 2019

Mechanicsburg, PA (July 22, 2019) – The Pennsylvania Library Association just announced the 2019 second quarter PA Forward^TM Star Library awardees. More than 30 libraries from throughout the state earned their star status and are being recognized by the Association for their efforts to provide patrons with educational resources and opportunities.   

 “The PA Forward^TM Star Library program spotlights libraries’ efforts to continue making intentional investments in literacy-aligned programs,” said Christi Buker, Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director. “Our libraries continue to be community pillars, meeting citizen needs, helping businesses, government organizations and others connect with local residents, sharing resources and information which have the potential to positively impact multiple lives.

“Yes, you can go to your local library and check out books, but these agile institutions demonstrate day in and day out they offer more than books,” Buker added. “Libraries offer the world to those who enter their doors. It is an honor to highlight those efforts with the PA Forward Star Library designation. Congratulations to all of our participating Star Libraries.”   

PA Forward^TM, which launched statewide in 2012, works through five key literacies – Basic, Information, Civic & Social, Health and Financial – to assist individuals in enhancing their overall quality of life. To continue helping libraries use PA Forward^TM to demonstrate all their libraries offer, in January 2017, the Association kicked off the Star Library program statewide. The Star Library recognition offers support to libraries who participate and integrate PA Forward^TM’s literacies in their programming activities. Program topics can include information such as retirement planning (financial literacy) to more physically active programs such as walking book club discussions (civic and social literacy and health literacy).

Libraries are recognized for meeting benchmarks within the bronze, silver and gold star levels of the program. While one star is awarded for both the bronze and gold levels, a total of five stars are awarded in the silver category – one silver star for each of the five literacies of PA Forward^TM. For each silver star award, a number appears denoting the number of silver stars obtained to date.

Stars are awarded on a quarterly basis in the calendar year and the recognition is for the highest level attained in the program at the time of the award. The libraries noted below are those that earned a first-time star or a new star level between April 1 and June 30, 2019. For a full listing of PA Forward^TM Star Libraries, visit http://paforwardstarlibraries.org/star-status/. The next round of awards will be announced after Sept. 30, 2019.

The list of awardees, by county, follows:

Allegheny County

Carnegie Free of Swissvale – Bronze                        Community Library of Allegheny Valley – Bronze

Cooper-Siegel Community Library – Silver, 1         Wilkinsburg Public Library – Silver, 3

Armstrong County

Apollo Memorial Library – Gold                                Ford City Public Library – Silver, 5

Berks County

Exeter Community Library – Silver, 5                        Kutztown Community Library – Gold

Schuylkill Valley Community Library – Bronze

Butler County

Butler Area Public Library – Silver, 5

Chester County

Chester County Library – Gold                                    Honey Brook Community Library – Silver, 2

Paoli Library – Gold                                                         Tredyffrin Public Library – Silver, 5

Clarion County

Knox Public Library – Gold

Crawford County

Springboro Library – Gold

Cumberland County

Bosler Memorial Library – Bronze                             Shippensburg University Library – Gold

Dauphin County

Penn State Harrisburg Library – Gold

Delaware County

Haverford Township Free Library – Silver, 3           Marple Public Library – Gold

Erie County

Erie County Public Library – Silver, 4

Lancaster County

Ephrata High School Library – Bronze                      Manheim Community Library – Silver, 1

Luzerne County

Wyoming Free Library – Bronze

Montgomery County

Ardmore Library – Gold                                                 Horsham Township Library – Silver, 2

Indian Valley Public Library – Silver, 5                                       

Somerset County

Somerset County Library – Silver, 2

Warren County

Warren Library Association – Silver, 5

Washington County

Chartiers-Houston Community Library, Silver 5                    Citizens Library – Gold

York County

Collinsville Community Library – Gold                                      Red Land Community Library – Silver, 5

Beginning January 2020, once a library achieves the Gold level of the PA Forward Star Library program, libraries will now be able to take steps to maintain their PA Forward Gold Star status. More information about that process, can be found at www.paforwardstarlibraries.org under the Getting Started tab.