Representative Sam Smith Receives PaLA Elected Official of the Year Award

Pictured left to right: Leslie Barr (Mengle Memorial Library), Rosalee Pituch (Rebecca M. Arthurs Memorial Library), Representative Smith, Darlene Marshall (Jefferson County Library System & Mengle Memorial Library), and Coral Ellshoff (Punxsutawney Memorial Library). Representative Sam Smith is recipient of the Pennsylvania Library Association’s 2012 "Elected Official of the Year Award." Representative Smith was presented the award Monday, December 3rd in Monroeville. The Pennsylvania Library Association citation stated,

“The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) is honored to present its 2012 Elected Official of the

Year Award to the Honorable Samuel H. Smith, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who

represents Pennsylvania’s 66th

Legislative District encompassing 60,000 residents in Jefferson, Indian,

and Armstrong Counties.

This award salutes Speaker Smith for his consistent advocacy on behalf of the millions of

Pennsylvanians who rely on the books, computers, programs, and expertise available in our public,

academic, and school libraries. He is an especially strong voice for improving public library services, a

reflection of his commitment to the literacy resources provided by libraries to pre-schoolers, students,

workers in transition, small businesses, and lifelong learners interested in self-improvement and

independence.

During this past year’s budget debate when many state programs faced deep cuts, Speaker Smith was

instrumental in securing level funding instead of the five percent reduction that had been proposed. In

so doing, Speaker Smith underscored once again his commitment to high-quality library services not

just for the constituents in his district, but for all Pennsylvanians.

With deep appreciation and grateful hearts, the 1600 members statewide of the Pennsylvania Library

Association are pleased to present this 2012 Elected Official of the Year Award to the Honorable Sam

Smith of Jefferson County.”

"Libraries provide invaluable services to our communities," Smith said. "I've always been an advocate for these local resource centers. I am deeply honored and wish to thank the Pennsylvania Library Association for this award. I, also, want to thank Darlene Marshall for the nomination. I appreciate the good working relationship I have with her and each of the librarians within Jefferson County and the 66th Legislative District." Representative Smith has a long history of supporting our local libraries. He encouraged and supported three different applications for Key ‘93 grants which resulted in physical improvements at the Mengle Memorial Library. He was instrumental in acquiring a Department of Community and Economic Development grant of $50,000 for the Summerville Public Library’s building project. His endorsement of other grant applications has benefitted area libraries. In an effort to ensure libraries in rural Pennsylvania had computer capabilities, Representative Smith provided each Jefferson County library with one of their first computers. He has made contributions to area collections by donating books. Representative Smith is a long time supporter of the “Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child” program. Every year, since the inception of the program in 2006, Smith visits local preschools and child care centers to read the selected book to the children. After watching Representative Smith read to the children at Play & Learn Nursery School at the Brookville YMCA last year, Darlene Marshall commented, “This was a wonderful opportunity to see him interact with preschoolers, share about his career and tell about the importance of libraries. He really showed his enthusiasm for our young readers, sharing the special PA One Book and learning about the preschoolers’ library experiences.” He has been vocal in his support of libraries. His comments about the 2012 National Library Week celebration are typical of why he values libraries, “Our local libraries are valuable community assets that meet wide varieties of needs. Each week the doors open to knowledge seekers, employment seekers, and people just wanting to curl up with a good book. The theme of this year’s National Library Week, ’You Belong @ Your Library’ is right on target. Libraries have something in store for everyone.” Representative Smith has been a member of House leadership since 2000 when his colleagues elected him Majority Whip. Since then he has served as both the Majority and Minority Republican leader. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of Speaker of the House. Representative Sam Smith has been an advocate of quality education, authoring legislation creating Accountability Block Grants that are now available to each school district in the Commonwealth. He has championed the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) that creates solid public-private partnerships throughout the state. With an eye toward providing quality educational opportunities for students in rural areas, he serves on Indiana University of Pennsylvania Council of Trustees and the Punxsutawney College Trust. He is a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Punxsutawney. He and his wife Donna have two children, Alex and Zach.