The Bradford Area Public Library has been able to build a solid
foundation for future librarians for the past three years with the
help of the John and Frances Beck Foundation.

The Chicago-based foundation has given the library a $10,000
check to be used for children’s literature and literacy.

“The first funding started in 2000. We have had several contacts
with people in the foundation and we just got another vote of
confidence and received more funding,” said Director Linda
Newman.

The money is meant for children’s literature and literacy
because of the Becks’ interest in the area. Dr. Beck and his wife
were both very accomplished in the field of education and Mrs.
Beck’s sister, Mary Mottey was a teacher at Bradford High for
nearly 30 years.

After his wife’s death, Dr. Beck set up a foundation in her
memory. The Bradford Area Public Library was a recipient of funds
from it, but when Newman took over in 2001, she found that the
funds were to be used to hire a children’s librarian.

“It was tough to find someone with that specification in the
area, so I asked them if there was any way that we could modify the
terms of the agreement to set up an internship so we could help
educate people who were interested in becoming children’s
librarians,” said Newman. “I think that one can learn a lot of
invaluabe things in the actual work experience that can’t be found
in the classroom. That is what we hoped to do with the
internship.”

Rachel Meit, the program’s internship coordinator, agreed.

Meit said the idea of helping future librarians was very
appealing.

“It was perfect,” she said. “I hoped to work with adults” after
being a children’s librarian.”

“To train college students was quite attractive.”

Meit added that it’s important for future librarians to get as
much hands-on experience as possible. This includes designing and
doing story time. Eventually, this would expand into partnerships
with the Grace Lutheran Church and the Family Center. Graduate
students work with a budget and learn how to develop a book
collection.

They have had students from Clarion, Buffalo, N.Y., as well as
the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Meit, who assigns specific tasks to the interns such as keeping
journals and coordinating assigned readings, tailored the program
toward what she felt she was lacking when she graduated.

“In my day, getting a master’s internship was not a realistic
view once you hit the workforce.”

The internship lasts about 150 hours. Those who have gone
through the program have raved about how it has prepared them to be
a librarian.

“They were much more comfortable in dealing with the public,”
Meit said.

Newman, Meit and company must be on the right track because the
Beck Foundation has once again recognized their efforts this
year.

“The board does not normally extend funds beyond a three-year
executive figure. They sent us a letter and said that ‘due to your
extensive efforts’ in maintaining the objectives of the fund, they
were pleased to offer us another check,” said Newman.

She said that the honor is humbling, considering the company the
library keeps.

“In 2004, we were invited to go to Chicago to talk to the board,
so we went to talk to them and we were in the company of other
people competing for the funding such as the University of Illinois
and the University of Chicago. It is nice just to be recognized in
the same breath with them,” she said.

In terms of the eight different institutions that The Beck
Foundation was considering, the BAPL ranked third, which is quite
the accomplishment.

“The funds we receive insure that we are getting the best in new
thought. We can develop new programs and we have used Beck funding
to spiff up our collection. The program has had nothing but really
good reviews from our interns,” said Newman.

Not sure how long the program will last, Meit’s in it for the
long haul.

“We hope to keep squeaking through somehow … find another
source,” she said, adding they do get some support from the
Reed-Coit matching scholarship at Pitt-Bradford.