What's New at PA Forward®

Worms at Work: Hands on Vermicomposting Workshop by the Eastern Monroe Public Library Named 2025 PA Forward® Adult Programming Best Program

Picture: Rob Lesher, PA Forward® Program Manager, Kit , Kit Kuchinski, Eastern Monroe Public Library, and Jennifer Luksa, 2025-2026 PA […]

PA Forward® Announces the 2025 Adult Literacy Programming Awards

Autumn Karns, Benson Memorial Library, Rick Miller, Osterhaut Memorial Library, Karla Trout, 2025 PaLA President, Mary Jordan, Hazleton Public Library, […]

PA Forward® Materials Appear on updated Pennsylvania Library Association Website

https://www.palibraries.org/pa-forward/

Auditor General DeFoor visits the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to promote Financial Literacy

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today highlighted Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s efforts to provide financial literacy education […]

What is Pa Forward®?

The Pennsylvania Library Association’s 21st Century Literacies Initiative, PA Forward®, was conceived to give voice to what the library community already knows, and what other states throughout the nation are also recognizing:

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.

Libraries have moved far beyond just being book repositories. They’re agile institutions serving real-life needs. Libraries are the key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in Pennsylvania by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy.

PA Forward® Steering Committee Members

Working in tandem with the PA Forward Project Manager, the Steering Committee advises on the best ways to lead and sustain the statewide initiative, working to ensure lasting results through library community engagement, partnership development, training and outreach, fundraising and by measuring impact.

Jessica Church – Chair, Erie County Library

Jennifer Luksa - Vice-Chair, Misericordia University

Ann Snowman, Retired – Penn State University

Ed Wolf, HSLC

Helen Taylor, Ephrata Public Library

Sandy Longo, Abington Community Library

Catherine Stewart, Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity

Robyn Vitek, Mt. Lebanon Community Library