Mt. Lebanon Public Library named Library of the Year
Mt. Lebanon Public Library has been named Pennsylvania’s library of the year by the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLa).
It is the first library in Allegheny County and in the Pittsburgh region to receive the honor, which was first given in 2018. The Mt. Lebanon Public Library was given the award for its leadership, its service within the PaLa and for the steps it has taken to protect access to information.
Earlier this year, the library’s board designated it a book sanctuary, which means the library collects and protects endangered books, makes those books accessible and offers educational programming on book banning.
In a news release, Library Director Robyn Vittek said, “Our library is a shining example of a community coming together to prioritize and support the idea that libraries are for everyone.”
She added that board and staff members and volunteers “work hard every day to provide a safe, welcoming space that champions intellectual freedom, creative expression, and personal fulfillment for families, residents, and patrons of all ages. This recognition is not just a celebration of our library; it’s a celebration of our community and the people who make it thrive.”
The library has been a part of the Mt. Lebanon community for close to 93 years. Last year, the library circulated more than 700,000 items and its staff answered more than 23,000 reference questions. Of the 34,000 residents in Mt. Lebanon, 56% have active library cards.
Previous recipients of PaLa’s library of the year honors include the Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton, the James V. Brown Library in Williamsport and the Chester County Library.