The Berks County Public Libraries recently honored a number of individuals and organizations for their support and contributions.
The ceremony was held virtually after the Berks County Public Libraries Advisory Board was forced to cancel it last year due to COVID.
The board considered nominations from either of the last two years and announced the category winners during the ceremony.
“The pandemic may have caused us to cancel the 2020 awards, it didn’t stop libraries from achieving great accomplishments that year,” said Amy Resh, system administrator for Berks County Public Libraries. “We wanted to recognize and honor some of the outstanding individuals who helped serve our community during the height of the pandemic.”
The awards served as a testament to the strength and unrelenting commitment from those who helped keep library services operational over the last two years, she said.
The award recipients from the 19th annual awards celebration were:
- Dreisbach Award for Exemplary Service: Jennifer Smilko, former administrative assistant for the Berks County Public Library System
- Linda Baer Friend of the Year: Jean Davis, Fleetwood Area Public Library
- Trustee of the Year: Paul Hoh, Reading Public Library
- Outstanding Community Organization: Exeter Township Public Works Department
- Outstanding Local Business: Boscov’s Department Store
- Outstanding Elected Official: Leesport Borough Council
- Outstanding Library Director: Natasha Donaldson, Mifflin Community Library
- Outstanding Library Staff Member: Stacy Laucks, Fleetwood Area Public Library
- Outstanding Fundraising Effort: Country Cruise, Kutztown Community Library
- Outstanding Program: StoryWalk, Boyertown Community Library
- Chet Hagan Memorial Public Relations Award: Kutztown Community Library
- Certificate of Merit: Sylvia Shaner, Muhlenberg Community Library volunteer
For more information about each award and this year’s recipients, visit the library website at berkslibraries.org/19th-annual-awards.
Source: Berkshire mont