Delaware County Libraries Hold Breakfast, Awards Ceremony

The Delaware County Library System held its annual Legislative Breakfast and Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 27. The event was held at the new Upper Darby Township and Sellers Library – Municipal Branch. The library was opened six months ago and was named by the American Library Association to its 2012 list of notable library design in the Small Project/Big Impact category.

Delaware County Council member John McBlain provided opening remarks for the event, focusing on his role as liaison to library services in the county. Kathy Silks from the Pennsylvania Library Association talked about PAForward a new library information and advocacy campaign program that focuses on library service in the five key areas that are needed to be successful in life. The areas are basic literacy, information literacy, health literacy, civic and social literacy and financial literacy.  More information on the campaign can be found on www.paforward.org.

Presented at the breakfast were the annual Delaware County Library Awards. The awards are given in three categories: Outstanding Public Official; Outstanding Citizen for Libraries and Outstanding Employee.

Presenting the award for Outstanding Public Official to Thomas Judge Jr. was John McBlain. Judge was recognized for his support of libraries in Upper Darby Township, especially his work on the new Municipal Branch. He supported the construction of the library both to other public officials and community members as a focal point for the community.

The Phyllis S. Larson Award for Outstanding Citizen for Libraries was presented to Naomi Jay, a patron and friend of the J. Lewis Crozer Library in Chester. Jay helped gather support for the library’s successful funding referendum and was active in the formation of the library’s friends’ group. She also founded the Needle Works in Chester program that meets at the library. The award is named in honor of Phyllis Larson, a volunteer who was instrumental in the formation of the Delaware County Library System.

The Outstanding Library Employee award was given to Lauren Longbottom of the Ridley Township Public Library. Longbottom is the Head of Children’s Services for library and was recognized for her many creative ways for promoting reading and library events.

A special Friend of Libraries award was given at the event. This is only the second time the award was given in 17 years. It recognized the efforts of five local Rotary Clubs to enhance the One Book, Every Young Child program. The program encourages parents and caregivers to share a special book with preschoolers. The Rotary Clubs raised money to provide 1,650 copies of the 2012 One Book selection to students in Head Start programs across the county. The five clubs honored were Swarthmore, Chester, Springfield, Upper Darby-Lansdowne and Ardmore.

State legislators attending included representatives Greg Vitali and Tomas Killion.

The Delaware County Library System is a department of county government responsible for providing support services for 26 independent member libraries.  For information about the wide range of library services available to all county residents, visit: www.delcolibraries.org or follow @delcolibraries on Twitter and delawarecountylibraries on Facebook.