Paula C. Snyder Children's
Literature Collection
Paula Catherine Michalowski was born July 25, 1946 in Oxford, NJ, the third of six children of Peter and Kathryn Michalowski. Education was always stressed to the children, each sibling tutoring the younger as they progressed through local catholic school. Paula received an associate’s degree from Manor Junior College immediately after high school and began her teaching career at Saint Jane’s Elementary School in Easton, PA. After marrying her husband, Timothy Snyder, in 1969 and moving to the West Coast, started a family with the birth of their only child, Matthew Timothy. The family returned east in 1973 and Paula taught in the public school systems of Bath, PA; Annapolis, MD*(Photo); Belvidere, NJ; and Allamuchy, NJ. During this time she received a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Library Science from Kutztown University. She was the elementary librarian at Pleasant Valley, PA School District when she died in October 1991.
“Paula was passionate about her work. She influenced children, she touched the future, she encouraged children to read, to entrust themselves to know the world through books,” said Veronica Michalowski, Paula’s sister. From daily stories read to the children, to holloween costumes bringing literary characters to life, Paula’s drive for quality in education was matched by her creativity and love of children’s literature. Paula’s passing at such a young age took away the opportunity of many children to experience her teaching. However, the many who enjoyed the animated storytelling, the famous witch costume, and her enthusiastic spirit in the library, we can never forget Paula Catherine Michalowski Snyder.Upon the death of his wife, Mr. Timothy Snyder donated her collection of children's literature to the Weinberg Memorial Library. He also established an endowment fund to purchase two copies of the annual Newberry and Caldecott Award winners. One copy of each book is placed in the circulating collection and an autographed copy is placed in Special Collections. The following link will take you to catalogue entries for the Alexander Pope Collection.
Telephone: (570) 941-6341
Fax: (570) 941-7817
Email: Michael Knies Special Collections Librarian
