Posting this press release on behalf of Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries:

2024 Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries Awards

For the past 25 years, the Board of the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries (PCBL) has called for nominations in various categories to recognize and call attention to people and organizations that have made significant contributions to libraries across our Commonwealth.

This year PCBL received over 10 nominations in two different categories:

• The Library Friend of the Year award is given to a citizen who has made an outstanding contribution to a local library, group of libraries, or libraries in general throughout Pennsylvania during the past two years. The Friend must be a member of PCBL.
• The Library Friends Group of the Year award is given to a Friends group that has provided significant assistance to its library. Assistance may be monetary contributions, assistance in raising funds, promoting the library and its services, or providing an advocacy effort on behalf of the library. The Friends group must be a member of PCBL.

The PCBL Board is pleased to recognize Lois Ostrowski of the Pittston Memorial Library as the Friend of the Year.  Lois is currently serving as the President of the Luzerne County Library Board and in this capacity, she brings strong and continuing leadership to the 10 public libraries in Luzerne County.  Raising funds to help support those libraries is an important priority for Lois. In addition to supporting a $1.5 million capital campaign, to double the size of the Pittston Memorial Library in 2015, Lois is an influential member of the Sustainable Fund Campaign which had as a goal to raise $40,000 each year for 2022-2024. Due to her efforts and leadership, that goal has already been exceeded. Other successful fundraising events under her leadership include Celebration Brick project, Mini-golf events, Shop with a Cop and a Drive through Dinner.  Lois also steps up to chair various committees within the Luzerne County Library System as well as with the Pittston Memorial Library. A teacher by training, and an enthusiastic volunteer by nature, Lois is an inspiration to her community.  The award was presented at the June 20, 2024 meeting of the Pittston Memorial Library Board of Trustees by PCBL President Denise Sticha.

The Friends of the Bradford County Library was selected as the  2024 Friends Group of the Year Award for their year-long efforts to keep the Library open after it was slated for closure due to budgetary concerns.  The Friends organized an information campaign to educate the community about the importance of the County Library not only to the residents of Troy, PA but also to the 8 other member libraries of the Library System of Bradford County. They hired an attorney to research the original funding agreements and recruited many new members to advocate on behalf of keeping the Library open.  As a result of their efforts, the Library remained open and  key stakeholders are evaluating the funding situation.  Nominating the Friends of the Bradford County Library were Jeffrey Singer, former Library Director, and Jacqueline Kingsley, former County Commissioner. Sticha attended a special celebration on July 23, 2024 at the Bradford County Library to present the award.

Founded in 1979, the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries is a federal and state tax-exempt non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage the citizens of Pennsylvania to advocate for strong public, school and academic libraries across the Commonwealth. It is governed by a broad-based Board of Directors comprised of Library Friends, library professionals and concerned citizens. For more information about Pennsylvania Citizens For Better Libraries, visit www.pcblpa.org.