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February 6, 2025
For Release: Immediately
Contact: Jennie Stapp, State Librarian
(HELENA) ---The Montana State Library is pleased to announce that 78 librarians and trustees from across Montana earned certification through the Montana State Library (MSL) certification program. 6 trustee, 39 library administration, and 33 library staff certificates were issued. Certification participants include public library staff as well as state agency, university, and tribal college library directors. Their individual efforts total more than 4,400 hours of learning over the past 4 years. The goal of the Montana State Library’s certification program is to ensure that Montana’s library patrons receive the best possible library service.
“Montana’s libraries provide excellent educational programming and services to Montanans due, in large part, to the ongoing commitment of library directors, trustees, and staff to continuing education,” said Jennie Stapp, Montana State Librarian. “The State Library’s certification program ensures that Montana librarians have up-to-date credentials, much like our colleagues in K-12 education. There’s always something to learn at your library and your librarians bring something new from every training and workshop they attend. We congratulate all of the 2024 MSL certification awardees for their hard work and dedication to their libraries and communities.”
The Montana State Library actively promotes professional development for trustees and library staff through its Continuing Education and Certification Program. This effort includes providing information and resources to connect local library trustees and staff with the continuing education they need to be successful in providing excellent library services in their communities. Certification is one way to demonstrate expertise and commitment to improving library services in their hometowns and across Montana.
“All full-time staff at the Miles City Public Library have received MSL certification. Certification ensures that through continuing education we're able to not only widen our scope of knowledge to improve library services to patrons, but we're also able to retain and support librarians,” said Sarah Peterson, Miles City Public Library Director. “MSL certification demonstrates the State Library's commitment to librarianship and lifelong learning, which is a foundational part of our mission.”
Kathryn Zimmerman, Director of the Petroleum County School-Community Library said, "Being a new director, the certification track has allowed me to gain so much knowledge that helps in my job every day. It has given me more insight on what questions need to be asked to help our library grow."
To receive the Library Certification, participants earn 60 or more valid continuing education credits in a four-year period. Certification expires in four years, so librarians must continue to seek professional development to maintain their certification. Public library trustees earn 15 continuing education credits in a four-year period to achieve certification.
Kathleen Johnson, Trustee from Petroleum County School-Community Library said “As an avid reader and a library board member I feel it very important to learn as much as possible about the workings of the Montana State Library and its attributes. The valuable menu offers endless items of which to partake.”
Congratulations to the following librarians and trustees who earned certification in 2024.
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Applicant Name
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CE Program Track
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Library
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Harris, Amber
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Library Administration
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Aaniiih Nakoda College Library
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Coughlin, Bob
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Trustee
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Belgrade Community Library
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Hoy, Sierra
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Staff
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Billings Public Library
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Russell, Mary
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Staff
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Billings Public Library
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McSweyn, Peggy
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Trustee
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Billings Public Library
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Key, Katharine
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Staff
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Bitterroot Public Library
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Wintergerst, Heather
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Staff
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Bitterroot Public Library
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Stephenson, Kit
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Library Administration
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Bozeman Public Library
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Mundt, Hannah
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Library Administration
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Bozeman Public Library
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Elliott, Benjamin
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Staff
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Bozeman Public Library
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Treut, Emma
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Staff
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Bozeman Public Library
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Woodard, Hilary
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Staff
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Bozeman Public Library
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Langendorff, Carrie
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Staff
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Bridger Public Library
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Giono, Angela
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Library Administration
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Broadwater Community-School Library
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Johnson, Stef
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Library Administration
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Butte-Silver Bow Public Library
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Wicks, Emily
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Library Administration
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Choteau County Library
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McLoughlin, Crystal
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Library Administration
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Choteau/Teton Public Library
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Cline, Darlene
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Library Administration
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Chouteau County Library - Big Sandy
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Shaw, Sarah
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Staff
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Chouteau County Library - Big Sandy
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Richert, Chantel
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Staff
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Conrad Public Library
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Rennaker, Stacie
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Library Administration
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Darby Community Public Library
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Dugan, Teri
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Library Administration
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Flathead County Library
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Wheeler, Jane
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Trustee
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Flathead County Library
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Ray, Morgan
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Library Administration
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Flathead Valley Community College Library
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Castle, Austin
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Library Administration
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Glacier County Library
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Vauthier, Carly
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Library Administration
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Harlem Public Library
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Brommer, Colleen
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Library Administration
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Harlem Public Library
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Elliott, Lori
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Staff
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Harlowton Public Library
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Kenison, Cerina
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Staff
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Jefferson County Library - Boulder
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Ferriss, Jeannie
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Library Administration
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Jefferson County Library - Whitehall
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Manley, Kate
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Trustee
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Laurel Public Library
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Beckstrom, Matthew
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Library Administration
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Brumm, Bretagne
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Staff
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Dill, Jill
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Staff
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Gullickson, Kadie
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Staff
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Hudson, Molly
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Staff
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Knott, Kalan
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Staff
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Lewis and Clark Library
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Kettering, Drew
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Staff
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Lewistown Public Library
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VanderBeek, Chiara
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Staff
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Lewistown Public Library
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Gibson, Bayley
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Staff
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Madison Valley Public Library
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Peterson, Sarah
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Library Administration
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Miles City Public Library
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Cunningham, Michelle
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Staff
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Miles City Public Library
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Raymond, Carl
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Staff
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Miles City Public Library
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Wise, Ashley
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Staff
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Miles City Public Library
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Lofts, Elizabeth
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Culhane, David
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Kneedler-Shorten, Xavier
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Lee, Slaven
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Cote, Laura
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Funston, Desiree
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Funston, Desiree
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Library Administration
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Missoula Public Library
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Campbell, Caroline
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Staff
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Missoula Public Library
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Clark, Teresa
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Staff
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Missoula Public Library
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Daidone, Joshua
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Staff
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Missoula Public Library
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Doyle, Brian
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Staff
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Missoula Public Library
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Johnson, Alex
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Staff
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Missoula Public Library
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Sloan, Corey
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Library Administration
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Montana State Library
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Bartow, Colet
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Library Administration
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Montana State Library
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Carroll, Melanie
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Library Administration
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Montana State Library
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Kamp, Rebekah
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Library Administration
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Montana State Library
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Witham, Mallory
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Library Administration
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North Lake County Public Library
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Claver, Angela
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Staff
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North Lake County Public Library
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Ard, Denise
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Library Administration
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North Valley Public Library
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Grady, Mitchell
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Library Administration
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Park County Library
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Zimmerman, Kathryn
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Library Administration
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Petroleum County School-Community Library
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Johnson, Kathleen
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Trustee
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Petroleum County School-Community Library
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Vale, Gina
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Library Administration
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Philipsburg Public Library
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Rice, Starla
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Library Administration
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Preston Hot Springs Town-County Library
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Buckles, Melissa
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Staff
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Roosevelt County Library
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Fladager, Holly
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Staff
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Sheridan County Library
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Reidle, Shelby
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Staff
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Sidney-Richland County Library
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Ball, Jennifer
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Library Administration
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Stillwater County Library
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Howard, Kayli
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Staff
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Stillwater County Library
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Buchanan, Crystal
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Library Administration
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Thompson Falls Public Library
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Alford, Heidi
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Library Administration
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Toole County Library
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Hartwell, Tawnee
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Trustee
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Valier Public Library
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Royan, Nancy
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Library Administration
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Wedsworth Memorial Library
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Powers, Mary Drew
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Library Administration
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Whitefish Community Library
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The Montana State Library provides information, resources, and guidance to organizations, communities, and residents of Montana to help them expand their knowledge and empower their decisions.
Our leading-edge data and applications help those seeking answers about Montana’s government, natural resources, heritage, land ownership, and more while our vital services improve public libraries and provide reading materials to those with disabilities.
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