HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) announced St. Marys Public Library is one of 14 libraries across Pennsylvania that have been awarded Professional Development Mini-Grants to enable librarians and staff to develop new skills and stay up to date on current trends.

Elk County’s St. Marys Public Library will receive $2,950.

“Libraries are the cornerstone of our communities, where patrons can stay up to date on the latest news, services, resources, and learning opportunities,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Just as libraries keep Pennsylvanians in-the-know, the professionals in the libraries deserve access to high-quality professional development opportunities. These mini-grants will allow library staff across the Commonwealth to continue their pursuit of lifelong learning and better serve their local communities.”

Eligible purchases may include virtual learning experiences, continuing education courses, supporting materials for learning experiences (e.g., books, workbooks), in-person learning experiences, speaker fees, conference attendance, etc. Funds must be spent by June 30.