Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) today announced that 14 libraries across Pennsylvania have been awarded Professional Development Mini-Grants to enable librarians and staff to develop new skills and stay up to date on current trends.
“Libraries are the cornerstone of our communities, where patrons can stay up to date on the latest news, services, resources, and learning opportunities,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Just as libraries keep Pennsylvanians in-the-know, the professionals in the libraries deserve access to high-quality professional development opportunities. These mini-grants will allow library staff across the Commonwealth to continue their pursuit of lifelong learning and better serve their local communities.”
The mini-grant awardees are as follows:
- Abington Community Library, Lackawanna County, $3,090.28
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, $5,000
- Centre County Library and Historical Museum, Centre County, $2,000
- Cumberland County Library System, Cumberland County, $4,391
- Ephrata Public Library, Lancaster County, $1,000
- James V. Brown Library, Lycoming County, $5,000
- Lawrence County Federated Library System, Lawrence County, $1,000
- New Castle Public Library, Lawrence County, $1,000
- Oil Creek District Library Center, Venango County, $5,000
- Reading Public Library, Berks County, $5,000
- Scranton Public Library, Lackawanna County, $1,000
- St. Mary’s Public Library, Elk County, $2,950
- Westmoreland County Federated Library System, Westmoreland County, $5,000
- William Jeanes Memorial Library, Montgomery County, $5,000
Individual learning mini-grants of up to $1,000 were awarded to support the activities of a single learner (e.g., virtual courses, webinar/conference attendance, self-directed learning activities); and group learning mini-grants of up to $5,000 were awarded to support any activity that would apply to a group of learners (e.g., hiring speakers for virtual or in-person staff-trainings, online courses for a group). The grants can also be used to host district or region-wide training or to provide training for trustees or volunteers.
Eligible purchases may include virtual learning experiences, continuing education courses, supporting materials for learning experiences (e.g., books, workbooks), in-person learning experiences, speaker fees, conference attendance, etc. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2025.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website or follow PDE on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.