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 can be key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in PA 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
The PA Forward Steering Committee is charged with leading and sustaining the campaign over multiple years to ensure lasting improvements to all library services through engagement of the library community, partnership development, marketing, fundraising and measuring impact.
Mary Garm – Chair
Lackawanna County Library System
Paula Gilbert - Vice Chair
Martin Library
Paula Collins
Clearfield County Public Library
Joann Eichenlaub
Madigan Library, Penn College of Technology
Barb Eshbach
Penn State York
Kelli Knapp
Warren Library Association
Jessica Lasher
Punxsutawney Memorial Library
Rob Lesher
Dauphin County Library System
Allison Mackley
Hershey High School
David Schappert
Marywood University
Jennifer Stocker
Easton Area Public Library & District Center; PA Library Association Immediate Past President
Denise Sticha
Berks County Library System
Alicia Stine
PA Citizens for Better Libraries
Carrie Turner
Cheltenham Township Library System; PA Library Association 2017 President