PLYMC Librarian Wins Emerging Leader Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pamela Brockway, early learning team leader at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County was named the recipient of the Diana Vescelius Emerging Leader Award from the Ohio Library Council.

The award recognizes “Ohio’s library leaders of tomorrow,” the council said according to a PLYMC news release. Criteria for the award includes showing  “future leadership potential by demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the profession, including advocacy in special areas such as intellectual freedom, library innovation, outreach and/or expansion of library services.”

Brockway, of North Lima, has been at PLYMC for four years and has served as early learning team leader since April of 2018. She was nominated for the award by Erin Phemester, library programming and youth services director, because of her “dedication to providing exemplary service to her fellow library staff and all library users in the areas of early literacy and early learning,” the PLYMC news release said. 

“Pam has had a great impact on early learning services in her first years at PLYMC,” said Aimee Fifarek, library executive director. “Her desire to keep growing as a librarian and to share her knowledge with the rest of us ensures that PLYMC is using the very latest strategies to provide families in our community with the very best on every visit. Her work on kindergarten readiness is benefitting not only Mahoning County, but will help the entire state.” 

Brockway secured a kindergarten readiness grant in January 2019. The $16,500 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services Library Services and Technology Act supports kindergarten readiness training for librarians and the purchase of early learning backpacks for families to borrow.

Saroj Ghoting, a recognized leader in early childhood literacy, praised Brockway as “one of the few people who is able to see the big picture, as well as attend to details. Even more importantly, she is able to articulate the big picture.” Ghoting is working with Brockway to provide training in best practices for early learning programming in libraries. The training sessions are provided to librarians from across the state of Ohio.

Brockway and other 2019 honorees will be recognized during a special Ohio Library Council ceremony and luncheon Sept. 25, during its 2019 convention and expo in Cincinnati.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.