Somerset County Library Selected for State Initiative, Metzgar Announced

September 28, 2017

HARRISBURG – Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford) announced today the Somerset County Library was chosen to take part in the state’s Turning Outward Initiative to improve library services and resources.

“Being selected to take part in this program is an honor of the Somerset County Library and will prove to be a benefit for the community, particularly those who use the library,” Metzgar said. “The library was one of 20 libraries across the state chosen to take part in this program.”

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) has engaged The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation to work with select public libraries from November 2017 through September 2019. The libraries will then understand and implement Harwood’s “turning outward” approach toward making decisions about library services and resources.

The program includes efforts to develop library organizations and staff who make community decisions; generate strategies and actions to make public libraries more relevant and significant in the community, and seek to address local financial concerns; forge partnerships and relationships in the community; and to instill a more vibrant, outward-looking culture.

No money will be flowing to participating libraries. However, the cost of all training events, including travel and all accommodations, will be covered by federal funds administered by OCL.

Representative Carl Walker Metzgar
69th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepMetzgar.com