TimesLeader.com

Library receives award

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

CLARKS SUMMIT - The Abington Community Library was recently recognized for excellence in marketing with a statewide award. The ACL was one of four winners in the commonwealth of over 600 libraries.

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The Commonwealth Libraries Bureau of Library Development Marketing for Lifelong Learning Award was presented to, from left: Francis Santoriello, Abington Community Library Board President and Leah Ducato Rudolph, Library Director, by the Northeast District Library Consultant, Pamela Murphy.

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This is the second time the library received the Commonwealth Libraries Bureau of Library Development Marketing for Lifelong Learning Award. The first recognition came in 2006 for the Ideal Patron campaign.

Library director Leah Ducato Rudolph believes this award is even more special because it was awarded for their general programs rather than a specific campaign.

“I was very surprised and honored because there are a lot of good things going on across the state,” said Rudolph.

The ACL was given the award for a variety reasons according to Bonnie Young, head of public libraries and professional development, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Library Development.

The library used the tagline “Committed to Lifelong Learning and provided programs suitable for all age groups. It also utilized comment cards and other forms of patron feedback to aid in planning and determine effectiveness.

A strong public relations campaign, local fundraising and community partnerships with groups like churches, colleges, the Abington Heights Civic League and the Lackawanna County Historical Society all led to the award.

Because of its commitment to humanities programming, the ACL was encouraged to apply for the award by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Books on film, rotating art displays and presentations are all examples of the ACL’s incorporation of the humanities.

“We want to be a community center that provides all kinds of arts and humanities,” said Rudolph, who added she is very grateful for the community’s support of the library.

One specific arts and humanities program that Rudolph mentioned was a demonstration of Civil War instruments that was held at the library.

This summer, the ACL’s commitment to lifelong learning and programs for all ages continues.

A list of daily events can be found at www.lclshome.org/Abington.