We Swept the 2019 PALA Best Practice Awards

York County Libraries won five Best Practices Awards for youth services during the Pennsylvania Library Association’s annual conference in October 2019.  The Carolyne L. Smith Best Practices Awards are given in nine different categories focused on library programs for children, teens, and families. Each category is for a different aspect of growth and learning, and there is only one winner for each category statewide.

Your libraries achieved the top awards in the following categories:

Best Practices Award for School Age

Congratulations, Gina! Kaltreider-Benfer's Escape Book Club

Awarded to Kaltreider-Benfer Library in Red Lion, PA for their engaging Escape Book Club, administered by youth services coordinator Gina Meinl and educator Erin Irving. Read our discussion with Gina about the program here.

Best Practices Award for Family/Multi-generationalCongratulations, Lisa & Felicia York County Library's Beyond Our Walls

Awarded to York County Libraries for the family-connecting Beyond Our Walls program, administered by Felicia Gettle and Lisa Schmittle. Read our discussion with them about the program here.

 

Best Practices Award for High SchoolCongratulations, Jennifer & Team Martin Library's Pride Dance

Awarded to Martin Library in York, PA for the teen-led, teen-run Pride Dance, administered by teen forum manager Jennifer Johnson. Read our discussion with her about the program here.

 

Best Practices Award for Humanities in ActionCongratulations, Jennifer & Team York County Library's Youth Empowerment Summit

Awarded to York County Libraries for the thought-provoking Youth Empowerment Summit (YES), administered by Jennifer Johnson. Read our discussion with her about the program here.

 

In addition to these honors, Jennifer Johnson, who works at both Martin and Kreutz Creek Libraries, was pleased to receive the top honor for YCL’s Youth Empowerment Summit: the David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award. This award is given to the “most creative and/or influential program for early learning in libraries” and is selected from the nine winners of Best Practices Awards.

We know our libraries make real differences in people’s lives every day and are proud that so many of our libraries’ efforts have been duly recognized on a statewide level. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all of our library supporters who helped us achieve these awards!