Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation

The Free Library of Philadelphia, in collaboration with Bucks County Free Library, Chester County Library System, Delaware County Library System, and Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, will use grant funds to recruit and train librarians throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on children’s and teen librarians. The project’s goals include increasing the number of professional children’s and teen librarians; increasing the number of professional librarians in leadership roles; growing the leadership skills of current librarians through mentorship; promoting children’s and teen librarianship as a career; and creating a national model for regional collaboration. Thirty-five recruits, the majority of whom will be current library staff members, will receive scholarships to obtain master’s degrees in library science from accredited programs.