Michelle Legate, District Consultant for the Northeast Library District, presented with the Distinguished Service Award for 2026.

Watch the presentation HERE!

Mechanicsburg, PA (October 13, 2026) – Each year, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) honors the service of their members, as well as those community volunteers, who go above and beyond the call of duty to support the work of libraries throughout the commonwealth.

 On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Michele Legate was recognized for her service to the Association with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award.

Michele has served as the District Consultant for the Northeast Library District since 2013. She began her library career at the Scranton Public Library in 2007. Invested in Libraries, Michele is passionate about her work and ensuring library users have a positive experience.

Described as a fierce defender of intellectual freedom, Michele is an advocate for rights and privacy of library users and the freedom to read.

Michele has held numerous roles within the Association on the state and local level. She was active with the Northeast Chapter, having served as Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, and Nominations Chair. She has also held state-wide positions as Legislative Co-Chair, Director at-Large, and Chair of the Scholarship Committee.

Michele served as President of PaLA in 2020 with strength and compassion. She helped lead the association and navigate its way through a complicated year which included the shift to a virtual conference. One of Michele’s notable achievements was formalizing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee as a standing committee.

As part of the Long-Range Conference Planning Taskforce, she recommended moving the conference bi-annually to Harrisburg to allow for a legislative advocacy day at the Capitol. Most recently, Michele was elected as the 2026 Conference Chair and is spreaheading the celebration of the associations 125^th Anniversary.

Beyond the Association, Michele is actively engaged in her community through her work with the Make a Wish Foundation and serving as a mentor and board member of Leadership Lackawanna.

Her nominator stated, “Michele empowers others to lead, to be bold, and to be their best and as a result, those of us that work with her are inspired to excel.”

"I am deeply proud to honor the outstanding contributions of our members, whose dedication, innovation, and commitment to equity ensure our libraries remain powerful anchors for communities across the Commonwealth." Richard E. Ashby, Jr, 2026 President of the Pennsylvania Library Association.  "Serving as the first African-American President of the Pennsylvania Library Association [PaLA] is a profound honor. Throughout my career as the Executive Director of the Sharon Hill Public Library and the Founder of LiteracyNation Inc., my mission has always been to break down barriers, champion membership diversity, and ensure equitable resource distribution. This historic milestone is not just a personal honor, but a collective victory that signals a proactive, inclusive era where every community across our Commonwealth is seen, heard, and structurally supported."

“Working in libraries can be both extremely challenging with limited funds as well as profoundly meaningful when we see the joy of readers and patrons valuing library services.” said Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director Christi Buker. “The Pennsylvania Library Association brings together the library community for advancement of both individuals and libraries. These awards bring important attention to outstanding individuals who make a positive impact both in their individual libraries, and across the state. Our 2026 award winners are top-notch professionals that are highly deserving of this recognition. We hope everyone will join us in congratulating them!”

A committee comprised of association members reviews the nominations submitted in late summer and selects winners for a series of categories.

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.

For a listing of previous award winners, click here. For more information about the work of the Pennsylvania Library Association, visit www.palibraries.org.

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