Bradford Area Public Library Executive Director Rebecca Feightner has been elected chair for the Pennsylvania Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLa).

She will assume the role in January having served as the chapter’s vice chair in 2024.

Founded in 1901, the Pennsylvania Library Association is the state’s oldest professional library organization serving libraries, library employees, library trustees and Friends of the Library groups. PaLa represents more than 1,300 personal, institutional and commercial members affiliated with public, academic, special and school libraries throughout the commonwealth. The association represents the profession in Harrisburg with the state legislature and provides opportunities for professional growth, leadership development and continuing education for librarians.

The Northwest chapter consists of Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties. Membership in each of the eight PaLa chapters is a mix of library type (i.e. school, public, archival, academic, etc.) and professional interests. Each chapter consists of an executive committee comprising several positions.

In her new role, Feightner will preside over two formal annual meetings, as well as monthly virtual gatherings. As a member of PaLa, Feightner also sits on the Legislative Information Committee, which meets bimonthly. This group stays current on proposed state legislation and remains in contact with state representatives to provide education on the importance of libraries to local communities. Legislative updates are also provided to the eight statewide library chapters.

Feightner also serves on the Seneca District Advisory Council, which represents the 17 libraries in the counties of Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren.

For the past two years, as a member of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Feightner has attended their annual September conference, where she has also been a presenter.