WAYNESBORO – The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library has been selected to receive a 2025 PA Forward Adult Literacy Programming Award.
The PA Forward Program recognizes Pennsylvania libraries that excel in incorporating five key literacies into their programs: basic, information, civic and social, health and financial. In its fifth year as a Gold Star library, AHMFL will receive the PA Forward 2025 Financial Literacy Award for its “Retirement: Making Your Money Last” program. The adult literacy awards were introduced in 2022, with entries evaluated by representatives of libraries around the state.
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library has been recognized for its adult programming three times. AHMFL won in 2022 for Health Literacy for the “Walking Librarian” program and in 2023 for Financial Literacy for the “Plan Today for Tomorrow” estate planning series.
“Retirement: Making Your Money Last” was hosted by librarian Gina Vitale and featured Frank Pinto, a financial adviser with Edward Jones. Originally from Harrisburg, Frank moved to Waynesboro in 2022 and has been offering financial programming at AHMFL since the fall of 2024. These programs offer financial literacy education to the community and promote the Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward Initiative as part of AHMFL’s ongoing efforts to help build the next generation of financially literate individuals.
Julene Diaz, director of AHMFL, will accept the PA Forward 2025 Financial Literacy Award at the PaLA conference in Erie in October. She will also represent AHMFL as a presenter at the conference. AHMFL staff will accept their fifth Gold Star library award from Rob Lesher, PA Forward Program Manager, in a Gold Star reception to be scheduled this fall.
