Ask Kathy Harrington what the most important room in the Pine-Richland Middle School is and she won't say a science classroom where students study biology, a French classroom where they learn about the culture of Paris, or the reading classroom where they decipher the words of famous poets.

She'll tell you it's the room where they can do all of the above -- the library.

"I do believe the library is the hub of a school and the community," said Dr. Harrington, principal of the middle school. "It's where the magic happens."

A former reading teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools before coming to Pine-Richland 15 years ago, Dr. Harrington has made encouraging students to read and visit the library a priority.

For her efforts, this summer Dr. Harrington was presented with the Western Pennsylvania School Librarians Association's Advocate Award, which recognizes a school advocate who has maintained an exemplary library program, improved an existing program, or initiated a program where none existed.

Kathy Batykefer, middle school librarian, nominated Dr. Harrington for the honor "because she has given me the funds and encouragement to really make an extraordinary library.

"Because she is a former reading specialist, Dr. Harrington understands how students learn to read and how to keep them reading," she said.

For her part, a good library is part of Dr Harrington's commitment to educating middle-schoolers.

"I am passionate about middle school," she said, noting that this year, there are nearly 740 students in Pine-Richland Middle School which houses seventh- and eighth-graders. "Those kids make me smile, make me laugh and sometimes, make me cry. ... I love every minute of it and I am so lucky to be there."

One of those sometime moments came Wednesday when the staff and students threw her a birthday party at the school, complete with a red carpet, a crown, singing and ice cream. It brought tears to her eyes.

Dr. Harrington, who lives in Peters, said it has always been her goal to get students into the library as often as possible.

"Where else can you go for free and have the entire world opened to you?" she asked. "The only place is the library."

Pine-Richland Middle School regularly has special library programs, such as the "brown bag talks," where students meet for lunch in the library to discuss a book.

This year, Dr. Harrington and library officials just kicked off "Dr. H's Reading Challenge," which encourages students to spend 15 minutes each night reading a book aloud with their parents.

"I'm just a huge book advocate," she said, noting that she likes to read romance novels and humorous books. "And I believe we've got to have something for everyone -- from the artist to the BMXer to the NASCAR racing fan.

"I will buy anything that will bring kids into the library because once I know they are in there, they will catch the fever."

Dr. Harrington dreamed of being a teacher as a child, when she set up a classroom in her family's garage in Johnstown and taught lessons to her stuffed animals.

After high school, she went to Carlow College and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, followed by a master's degree in reading and a doctorate in administration and policy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Since first teaching eighth-grade students in the city schools to love reading by providing copies of the USA Today and Sports Illustrated for Kids, Dr. Harrington said she found that she loves spending time with students at that age level.

It seems the only thing that comes close to her love of being in the education business is raising dogs. And not just any dogs -- a championship line of purebred bearded collies.

After marrying her husband, Ray, she said the two decided they wanted to get a dog and liked the breed, which is considered a herding dog. Now they have five dogs, ranging from 18 months to 16 years old.

Their dogs have taken part in many prestigious dog shows, including the annual Westminster Kennel Club contest, and over the years have won numerous Best in Show awards and ribbons.

"We just love it and it's a wonderful thing to do together," she said, adding the couple this summer welcomed their first new litter of pups in several years and are now placing them with families interested in the shaggy breed. "We love the competition and we have made a lot of great friends over the years at the shows."

Despite her love of dogs and the competition, Dr. Harrington is quick to add that education is still her first love.

And, she points out, she learned about raising and showing pups from time spent in a library.

"When I need to find something out, that's where I go," she said. "Reading is knowledge and knowledge is power. It's as simple as that."