REP. STAN SAYLOR THE 2019 ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Mechanicsburg, PA (November 18, 2019) – The Pennsylvania Library Association is honored to present the 2019 Elected Official Award to Representative Stan Saylor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 94th Legislative District, York County. Winners of Association awards were announced at the 2019 Pennsylvania Library Association conference in Erie PA on October 16th. The elected official award is given annually to an elected official or officials for exemplary support of library service in Pennsylvania. Representative Saylor was presented with the recognition plaque on November 18, 2019 at the Capitol, Harrisburg, PA.
Representative Stan Saylor has been a longtime supporter of libraries. In his home of York County, he is actively involved in ensuring that the libraries have what they need from books, informational materials, donations and recognition. Upon appointment as the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee in 2016, the statewide library community learned that Representative Saylor was a friend of libraries.
In 2018, Representative Saylor was frustrated by the flat funding of libraries and suggested that the Pennsylvania Library Association work closely with the Appropriations Committee on behalf of libraries statewide. When the request arrived for recognition of the Libraries Move PA Forward™ Day, he did not hesitate to sponsor the citation. Then, in October of 2018, Representative Saylor spoke at the PA Library Association Conference Legislative Breakfast and publicly committed to work on restoring library funding.
As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, he again publicly stated his commitment to library funding during his chairman’s remarks at the close of the Department of Education hearing in March of 2019. He went even further this time to say that public library funding was one of his top priorities. This was an empowering and inspiring moment for librarians and library advocates. Over the course of the state budget cycle, Representative Saylor worked tirelessly including reaching across the aisle and to the Senate to secure an additional $5 million – or 9.18% increase – for the public library subsidy.
“Representative Saylor’s work on behalf of libraries resulted in the first real infusion of funding in public libraries since the economic downturn in 2008” commented Christi Buker, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Library Association. “Libraries have been struggling. The 2019-2020 budget is a significant first step in trying to give some relief to overstretched operational budgets of PA libraries. Representative Saylor deserves recognition for helping to guide that step.”
Representative Saylor’s local library, The York County Library System, was also the first recipient of The Library of the Year Award presented by the Pennsylvania Library Association in 2018 and was an early achiever of PA Forward™ Gold Star Library Certification recognizing its quality library programming and service to the community.
A committee comprised of association members reviews the nominations, submitted in late summer, and selects winners. “It was my honor to serve as the Chair of the 2019 Awards Committee and to be a part of the process of shining the spotlight on library professionals and supporters.” said Carrie Sturgill, Head of Youth Services, Radnor Memorial Library. “It was incredibly rewarding to read the submissions about individuals such as Rep. Saylor who are sincerely committed to promoting and improving libraries in Pennsylvania.”
Founded in 1901, the Pennsylvania Library Association is the state’s oldest and most diverse professional library organization serving libraries, library employees, library trustees, and Friends of the Library groups. PaLA represents more than 1,300 personal, institutional and commercial members affiliated with public, academic, special and school libraries throughout the commonwealth. The association represents the profession in Harrisburg with the state legislature and provides opportunities for professional growth, leadership development and continuing education for librarians.
For a listing of previous award winners, visit https://www.palibraries.org/page/Awards. For more information about the work of the Pennsylvania Library Association, visit www.palibraries.org.
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submitted by:
Christi Buker | Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association |
220 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10 | Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717.766.7663 – office www.palibraries.org | www.paforward.org